Invention Reference Number
Typical liquid electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries use a salt in solution but have a low transport number since much of the conductivity is through the anion. This causes polarization at the electrodes, reduced stability, and dendrite formation which limits their practical application. This technology is a new salt and single-ion conducting polymer made using an amine-based small molecule or polymer. The new salt has a similar bulk conductivity to that of conventional liquid electrolytes, but with vast improvement in the transport number. It allows for high ionic conductivity with a four-fold increase in the transport number.
Description:
This technology utilizes a salt and an amine containing a small molecule or polymer for the synthesis of a bulky anionic salt or single-ion conducting polymer electrolyte for use in lithium-ion and perhaps beyond Li-ion batteries. The challenge in typical lithium-ion batteries is that the Li+ transport number is low due to high ionic conductivity contributed by an anion. The low transport number limits their practical application for high energy density batteries utilizing an alkali metal anode. Single-ion conducting polymeric materials constrain the mobility of the anion by tethering it to the polymer, and often exhibit a high cation transport number (>0.85). This technology is a new bulky salt and single-ion conducting polymer. The small molecule salt exhibits a bulk conductivity similar to that of conventional salt but with a five-times improvement in the cation transport number in a liquid electrolyte system. The single-ion conducting polymer electrolyte exhibits improved conductivity compared to other single-ion homopolymers. Additionally, when a liquid electrolyte is added to the single-ion conducting polymer, high ionic conductivity can be achieved with a 4-times increase in the cation transport number compared to the liquid system alone.
Benefits:
- Improved performance
- Lasts longer
- Charges faster
- Less costly
- Improved lifetime and efficiency
- Improved Li-ion conductivity
Applications and Industries:
- Electric vehicle (EVD) manufacturers
- EV battery manufacturers
Contact:
To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051.
