Zinc Battery Negative Electrode and Separator for Longer Cycle Life
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Zinc batteries, such as nickel-zinc batteries, face challenges in improving life performance and reducing direct-current resistance, particularly when using cellulose-based compounds as negative electrode materials.
Innovation Solution
The zinc battery design incorporates a negative electrode with a polyvinyl alcohol-based material and a metal oxide containing bismuth or indium, supported by a tin-plated metal current collector, along with a separator configuration that includes both a porous membrane and a nonwoven fabric, and an electrolytic solution containing an alkali metal hydroxide, surfactant, and saccharide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cellulose-based compound is used as a water-soluble polymer material for the negative electrode, then the negative electrode material layer can be formed, but the life performance and direct-current resistance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymer material parameter from cellulose-based compound to polyvinyl alcohol, and modifies the electrolytic solution composition by adding surfactant and saccharide, which together resolve the contradiction by achieving both excellent life performance and reduced direct-current resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system combining polyvinyl alcohol with specific electrolytic solution additives (surfactant and saccharide), which synergistically improve both life performance and direct-current resistance, overcoming the limitations of using cellulose-based compounds alone
2Reliability
If the separator uses only a porous membrane, then the structure is simple, but the life performance and direct-current resistance are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a porous membrane and a nonwoven fabric into a composite separator structure, where the porous membrane provides structural support and the nonwoven fabric enhances electrolyte retention and ion transport, together achieving improved life performance and reduced direct-current resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The composite separator performs multiple functions simultaneously: the porous membrane provides mechanical strength and basic separation, while the nonwoven fabric enhances electrolyte wettability and ion conduction, creating a multi-functional separator that optimizes both performance parameters
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
This configuration enhances the cycle life performance and reduces direct-current resistance in zinc batteries, improving their overall efficiency and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
the negative electrode material contains a polyvinyl alcohol and a negative electrode active material containing zinc
Implementation Method 2
the separator has a first separator including a porous membrane and a second separator including a nonwoven fabric
Implementation Method 3
the electrolytic solution contains an alkali metal hydroxide
Implementation Method 4
the electrolytic solution contains a surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a zinc battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolytic solution, and a separator, in which the negative electrode has a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode material supported by the negative electrode current collector, the negative electrode material contains a polyvinyl alcohol and a negative electrode active material containing zinc, and the separator has a first separator including a porous membrane and a second separator including a nonwoven fabric.