UV-Curable Silicon Oxide Solid Electrolytes for Fast Ionogel Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ionogel electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries do not meet all the requirements of good functional properties, manufacturability, and compatibility with other battery components, limiting their performance and commercial viability.
Innovation Solution
A solution for forming a solid electrolyte comprising functionalized silicon oxide particles dissolved in a liquid medium, with organic moieties that can form covalent bonds upon activation by a radical species, and an electrolyte compound, allowing for rapid solidification and improved compatibility with battery components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ionic liquids are incorporated into polymeric matrices to form ionogel electrolytes, then the electrolyte provides structural support and reduced leakage risk, but the ionic conductivity decreases compared to pure ionic liquid electrolytes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining ionic liquids with porous silicon oxide particles and polymer matrices. The porous silicon oxide particles provide a three-dimensional network structure that maintains structural stability while the interconnected pores allow high ionic conductivity pathways for lithium ion transport, resolving the contradiction between structural support and ionic conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates porous silicon oxide particles with controlled pore sizes and high surface area into the electrolyte matrix. The porous structure provides both mechanical integrity and continuous ion conduction pathways, enabling the electrolyte to maintain structural stability while achieving high ionic conductivity that overcomes the limitations of traditional polymeric ionogel electrolytes.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional ionogel electrolyte formation methods are used, then the electrolyte can be formed, but the process requires long solidification times and lacks control over the solidification reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal or chemical solidification methods with UV光聚合 (photopolymerization). The solution contains photopolymerizable functional groups that undergo rapid crosslinking upon UV irradiation, transforming the electrolyte from liquid to solid state in seconds rather than hours or days, dramatically improving productivity while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs UV irradiation as a periodic activation method to trigger controlled solidification. The UV light source can be applied intermittently or continuously, providing precise control over the solidification timing and extent, allowing the electrolyte to remain processable during assembly and then rapidly solidify when exposed to UV light, optimizing both manufacturability and production speed.
3Productivity
If acid or base catalysts are used to accelerate the solidification reaction, then the solidification time decreases, but the crystal structure of electrode particles is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces acid or base chemical catalysts with UV光聚合 (photopolymerization) as the solidification mechanism. This substitution eliminates the harmful chemical effects on electrode particles while maintaining rapid solidification speed. The UV-triggered crosslinking reaction proceeds quickly without requiring corrosive catalysts, thus protecting electrode crystal structures from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV light as an intermediary energy source to activate the solidification reaction. Instead of using chemical catalysts that directly contact and damage electrode particles, UV photons serve as a non-contact intermediary that triggers the photopolymerizable functional groups in the electrolyte to crosslink, achieving fast solidification without harmful chemical byproducts or electrode degradation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the electrolyte solution is prepared in advance, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the solution may solidify prematurely before application to electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the electrolyte solution with photopolymerizable functional groups and inert additives in advance, maintaining it in a stable liquid state through controlled storage conditions. The solution can be stored and transported before use, and when needed, UV irradiation is applied to trigger rapid solidification. This preliminary preparation simplifies the manufacturing process while preventing premature solidification through proper storage and timing of UV activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the stability and reactivity parameters of the electrolyte solution by adjusting the photopolymerizable functional group concentration, adding UV inhibitors or stabilizers, and controlling storage temperature and light exposure. These parameter changes allow the solution to remain stable during storage and handling, then rapidly transition to solid state when UV irradiation is applied, preventing premature solidification while simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the formation of a solid electrolyte with good ionic conductivity, manufacturability, and compatibility with battery electrodes, enhancing the energy and power density of lithium-ion batteries.
Implementation Method 1
organic moieties comprising: at least four non-hydrogen atoms, of which one atom is covalently bonded to a silicon atom of the silicon oxide particles, and a linkable functional group capable, after activation by a radical species, of forming a covalent bond by reaction with another identical linkable functional group
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of silicon oxide particles dissolved in a liquid medium
Implementation Method 3
their ionic conductivity is preferably sufficiently high so as to not limit the battery charging and discharging rates
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
A solution for forming a solid electrolyte (5), the solution comprising: a plurality of silicon oxide particles (1) dissolved in a liquid medium, the silicon oxide particles (1) being functionalized with organic moieties (2) comprising: at least four non-hydrogen atoms, of which one atom is covalently bonded to a silicon atom of the silicon oxide particles, and a linkable functional group (21) capable, after activation by a radical species, of forming a covalent bond by reaction with another identical linkable functional group, wherein the organic moiety (2) comprises at least two atoms, not part of the linkable functional group (21), that are bonded by a π bond to each other, wherein a ratio of the number of said organic moieties (2) to the number of silicon atoms comprised in the plurality of silicon oxide particles (1) is at least 0.3, and an electrolyte compound (52).