Solvent-free Solid Electrolyte

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This patent describes a new type of solvent-free solid polymer electrolyte designed for use in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The electrolyte is based on a polymer matrix containing specially modified polyrotaxanes—structures where ring-shaped molecules such as cyclodextrin, crown ether, pillar[n]arene, cucurbituril, or calix[n]arene (with n in certain ranges) are chemically modified and threaded onto linear polymers. The lithium salt used within this matrix is at least partially chemically bonded to the polymer. This innovative approach leads to significantly improved ionic conductivity (especially at room temperature), greater electrochemical stability, and enables long-term cycling at high charge and discharge rates, making the electrolyte suitable for industrial battery applications.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for consumer electronics (e.g., smartphones, laptops)
• Electric vehicle (EV) batteries that require fast charging and high cycling stability
• Stationary energy storage systems for renewable energy (e.g., solar or wind), where battery safety and lifetime are critical
• Batteries in aerospace or defense applications, where reliability and safety are paramount
• Use as a binder or additive in cathodes, anodes, or separatory layers in advanced battery systems
• Development of multi-layer battery architectures with enhanced safety and performance

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly increased lithium-ion conductivity at room temperature, enabling higher battery performance
• Solvent-free (dry) electrolyte, reducing fire, leakage, and environmental risks inherent in liquid electrolytes
• Greater electrochemical stability, resulting in longer battery life and safer operation
• Enables fast charging and discharging cycles (>1 C), supporting applications that demand rapid energy input/output (such as EVs)
• Stable long-term cycling, with high capacity retention and efficiency over hundreds of cycles
• Easier and more cost-effective synthesis using abundant, environmentally friendly starting materials (e.g., starch-derived cyclodextrins)
• Versatile application in various battery chemistries and cell components, including as a separator or binder

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a solvent-free polymer electrolyte for use in a rechargeable lithium-ion secondary battery, comprising a polymer matrix which is conductive for lithium-ions and a lithium salt. The polymer matrix has at least one polyrotaxane which comprises at least one linear polymer and at least one ring-shaped molecule. The lithium salt is arranged in the polymer matrix and is at least partly chemically bonded to the polymer matrix. According to the invention, the polymer matrix has at least one polyrotaxane with a partly or completely chemically modified cyclodextrin, crown ether, pillar[n]arene, where n = 4 to 7, cucurbituril, or calix[n]arene, where n = 4 to 8, as the ring-shaped molecule. The structural change produces a greatly increased ionic conductivity, in particular at room temperature. The systems chemically modified according to the invention additionally exhibit an improved electrochemical stability, wherein even the stable long-term cyclization which is indispensable for industrial applications can be implemented in a reproducible manner using the novel dry polymer electrolytes in lithium/LiFePO4 cells at high charging and discharging currents (> 1 C).