Zinc Battery Separator with Resin Frame for Dendrite Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Zinc secondary batteries, such as nickel-zinc and zinc-air batteries, face issues with short circuits due to dendritic zinc growth, which is not effectively addressed by existing technologies, leading to safety and reliability concerns.
Innovation Solution
A separator structure incorporating a hydroxide-ion-conductive ceramic separator with a peripheral resin frame or film, ensuring reliable separation between the positive and negative electrodes, and a porous substrate for enhanced handling and sealing, preventing dendritic zinc penetration and carbon dioxide intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydroxide-ion-conductive ceramic separator is used to prevent dendritic zinc penetration, then short circuit prevention is improved, but the separator structure becomes complex and difficult to seal and bond to the battery container
Solution Approach 1:
The separator structure combines a hydroxide-ion-conductive ceramic separator with a resin peripheral member to create a composite structure. The ceramic separator provides ion conductivity and dendrite prevention, while the resin peripheral member provides structural support, sealing capability, and ease of bonding to the battery container, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The resin peripheral member acts as an intermediary between the ceramic separator and the battery container. It facilitates sealing and bonding operations while protecting the fragile ceramic separator, thereby improving handleability during assembly without compromising the short circuit prevention function of the ceramic separator
2Reliability
If a ceramic separator is used to ensure water impermeability and gas impermeability, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation during assembly is worsened due to poor handleability
Solution Approach 1:
The resin peripheral member functions as a flexible structure that can be easily manipulated during assembly operations. This flexible component provides the necessary handleability while the integrated ceramic separator maintains water and gas impermeability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation
3Ease of operation
If a simple separator structure is used to improve ease of assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to reliably separate positive and negative electrodes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The separator structure is segmented into two functional parts: a ceramic separator component responsible for reliable electrode separation through ion conductivity and impermeability, and a resin peripheral member component responsible for ease of assembly through flexible handling and sealing capabilities. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function without compromising the other
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 effectively prevents short circuits and dendritic zinc growth, ensuring improved safety and reliability of zinc secondary batteries by maintaining electrochemical reactions while inhibiting gas and water permeability, thus enhancing battery performance and lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a separator composed of a hydroxide-ion-conductive inorganic solid electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and yet water impermeability and gas impermeability
Implementation Method 3
exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and yet water impermeability and gas impermeability
Implementation Method 4
for preventing the short circuit caused by dendritic zinc
Implementation Method 5
which has a long lifespan and a high long-term reliability... for preventing the short circuit caused by dendritic zinc
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided is a separator structure for use in a zinc secondary battery. The separator structure includes a ceramic separator composed of an inorganic solid electrolyte and having hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability, and a peripheral member disposed along the periphery of the ceramic separator and composed of at least one of a resin frame and a resin film. The separator structure exhibits water impermeability as a whole. The separator structure of the present invention can reliably separate the positive electrode side from the negative electrode side in a zinc secondary battery, is readily sealed and bonded to a resin battery container, and exhibits significantly improved handleability during the assembly of the battery.