Integrated electrode-electrolyte unit
AssigneeMJ3 Industries LLC
InventorJamie Lynn Hass
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Presented herein is a device that integrates an electrode and the electrolyte of a battery and uses nanomaterial as a separator between the two electrodes. The device described herein is designed to be suitable for high-temperature applications in which the membranes of traditional batteries would melt or decompose. Such melting or decomposition can short-circuit the cell, pose safety risks, and accelerate reaching the end of the batteries' lifespan. Using the nanomaterial as the separator, rather than the membrane that is used in traditional batteries, increases thermal and structural stability and reduces the need for external thermal management systems. Methods of manufacture and use of the device are also presented.
Claims20
An integrated electrode-electrolyte unit comprising:
- a metal current collector;
- nanomaterial comprising:
- a plurality of nanostructures, at least partially bonded to at least one side of the metal current collector;
- and
- a plurality of interconnected nanopores comprising spaces between individual nanostructures of the plurality of nanostructures;
- an electrode subsuming (1) at least part of the metal current collector, (2) a first portion of the plurality of nanostructures, and (3) a first portion of the plurality of interconnected nanopores between the first portion of the plurality of nanostructures;
- a separator scaffold preventing contact between the electrode and another electrode adjacent to the separator scaffold, the separator scaffold consisting of:
- a second portion of the plurality of nanostructures, wherein the second portion of the plurality of nanostructures is not subsumed within the electrode;
- and
- a second portion of the plurality of interconnected nanopores between the second portion of the plurality of nanostructures;
- and
- electrolyte electrostatically suspended in the second portion of the plurality of interconnected nanopores.
A method of manufacturing an integrated electrode-electrolyte unit comprising:
- a metal current collector;
- nanomaterial comprising:
- a plurality of nanostructures, at least partially bonded to at least one side of the metal current collector;
- and
- a plurality of interconnected nanopores comprising spaces between individual nanostructures of the plurality of nanostructures;
- an electrode subsuming (1) at least part of the metal current collector, (2) a first portion of the plurality of nanostructures, and (3) a first portion of the plurality of interconnected nanopores between the first portion of the plurality of nanostructures;
- a separator scaffold preventing contact between the electrode and another electrode adjacent to the separator scaffold, the separator scaffold consisting of:
- a second portion of the plurality of nanostructures, wherein the second portion of the plurality of nanostructures is not subsumed within the electrode;
- and
- a second portion of the plurality of interconnected nanopores between the second portion of the plurality of nanostructures;
- and
- electrolyte electrostatically suspended in the second portion of the plurality of interconnected nanopores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.