Printable ionic gel separation layer for energy storage devices

A method of fabricating a liquid or gel separator for separating and spacing apart at least two conductors, the method comprising:

• depositing a composition over a first conductor of the at least two conductors, the composition comprising:
• a plurality of particles comprising silicate glass having a size between 5 microns to 15 microns and present in an amount between 40 to 60 percent of the total weight of the composition;
• an ionic liquid as a first electrolyte, the ionic liquid comprising 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium;
• a second electrolyte comprising zinc tetrafluoroborate salt, the first and second electrolytes present in an amount between 15 to 30 percent of the total weight of the composition;
• a polymer present in an amount between 0.5 to 10 percent of the total weight of the composition and comprising polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”);
• and
• N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone present in an amount between 10 to 30 percent of the total weight of the composition.

A liquid or gel separator for separating and spacing apart at least two conductors, the liquid or gel separator comprising:

• a plurality of particles comprising silicate glass having a size between 5 microns to 15 microns and present in an amount between 40 to 75 percent of the total weight of the separator, wherein at least some particles of the plurality of silicate glass particles are arranged as a monolayer;
• an ionic liquid as a first electrolyte, the ionic liquid comprising 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium;
• a second electrolyte comprising zinc tetrafluoroborate salt, the first and second electrolytes present in an amount between 15 to 45 percent of the total weight of the separator;
• a polymer present in an amount between 0.5 to 15 percent of the total weight of the separator and comprising polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”);
• and
• at least a trace amount of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone.