# US 10,872,736 B2 · Robust electrical component and an electrolyte for use in an electrical component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,872,736 B2 - Document ID: US10872736B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/990,982 - Filed: 2018-05-29 - Published: 2019-12-05 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-29 - Assignees: City University of Hong Kong - Applicants: City University of Hong Kong - Inventors: Chunyi Zhi; Zhuoxin Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10872736B2 ## CPC - H01G 11/54: Electrolytes - H01G 11/28: arranged or disposed on a current collector; Layers or phases between electrodes and current collectors, e.g. adhesives - H01G 11/36: Nanostructures, e.g. nanofibres, nanotubes or fullerenes - H01G 11/56: Solid electrolytes, e.g. gels; Additives therein - H01G 11/68: characterised by their material - H01G 11/70: characterised by their structure - H01G 11/84: Processes for the manufacture of hybrid or EDL capacitors, or components thereof - Y02E 60/13: Energy storage using capacitors - H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A System and a method for an electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor including a hydrogel including a polymer matrix including at least two crosslinked structures; an aqueous solution including the polymer matrix within the aqueous solution, and wherein the electrolyte can dissipate energy in response to mechanical loads. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor comprising: a hydrogel including a polymer matrix including a first crosslinked structure and a second crosslinked structure; and an aqueous solution including the polymer matrix within the aqueous solution wherein the aqueous solution includes an ionic crosslinking agent including one or more ions that interact with the second crosslinked structure, wherein the first crosslinked structure includes a covalently bonded structure defined by a plurality of acrylamide chains forming at least one covalent bond with each other, wherein the second crosslinked structure includes an ionically bonded structure defined by a plurality of alginate chains forming at least one ionic bond with the ionic crosslinking agent, and wherein the first and the second crosslinked structures are arranged to cooperatively dissipate energy in response to mechanical loads applied onto the electrolyte such that electrochemical performance of the supercapacitor remains substantially unchanged upon the mechanical loads are applied and removed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution comprises at least one salt or acid, and wherein the at least one salt or acid has a concentration of 0.1M to 2M. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the acrylamide of the first crosslinked structure comprises an amount of 5 wt % to 20 wt % based on a total amount of the hydrogel and the alginate of the second crosslinked structure comprises an amount of 0.5 wt % to 5 wt % based on the total amount of the hydrogel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more ions is selected from Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Al2+, Fe2+ and wherein a concentration of the one or more ions is between 0.01M to 0.5M. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first crosslinked structure functions as a bridging structure and the second crosslinked structure is configured to dissipate energy from mechanical loads or mechanical stress exerted on the electrolyte, wherein the second crosslinked structure dissipates energy by breaking bonds in the second crosslinked structure and reforming the broken bonds once the mechanical loads or mechanical stress is removed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is prepared by soaking the hydrogel within an aqueous solution containing the ionic crosslinking agent for a time between 5 min to 60 min. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrolyte for use in a supercapacitor in accordance with claim 6, wherein the ionic crosslinking agent is Al2Cl3. ### Claim 8 A supercapacitor comprising: a pair of electrodes; and a hydrogel electrolyte located between the pair of electrodes, the hydrogel electrolyte comprising: a polymer matrix including a first crosslinked structure and a second crosslinked structure; and an aqueous electrolyte solution including a polymer matrix within the aqueous electrolyte solution, wherein the aqueous electrolyte solution includes an ionic crosslinking agent including one or more ions that interact with the second crosslinked structure, wherein the first crosslinked structure includes a covalently bonded structure defined by a plurality of acrylamide chains forming at least one covalent bond with each other, wherein the second crosslinked structure includes an ionically bonded structure defined by a plurality of alginate chains forming at least one ionic bond with the ionic crosslinking agent, and wherein the first and the second crosslinked structures are arranged to cooperatively dissipate energy in response to mechanical loads applied onto the electrolyte such that electrochemical performance of the supercapacitor remains substantially unchanged upon the mechanical loads are applied and removed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 8, wherein the supercapacitor is a flexible electrical component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 8, wherein each electrode comprises a current collector, active material, electrical conductive particles and one or more binders. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 10, wherein the current collector of each electrode comprises at least one of carbon nanotube paper, carbon cloth, carbon paper or nickel foam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 10, wherein the active material of each electrode comprises polypyrrole (PPy), wherein the PPy is prepared by electrochemical deposition, and wherein an electrochemical deposition time is 10-900 s. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 8, wherein the supercapacitor being obtained by sandwiching the hydrogel electrolyte between the pair of electrodes, and wherein outer sides of the pair of electrodes is covered with the hydrogel electrolyte. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 8, wherein the aqueous electrolyte solution of the hydrogel electrolyte comprises at least one salt or acid, wherein the at least one salt or acid has a concentration of 0.1M to 2M. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 8, wherein the hydrogel electrolyte is formed by mixing &gel monomer for the first crosslinked structure, a polymer for the second crosslinked structure, an initiator and a crosslinking agent for the first crosslinked structure in deionized water and curing in room temperature or a higher temperature, then soaking with an aqueous solution containing the ionic crosslinking agent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 15, wherein the gel monomer for the first crosslinked network comprises acrylamide in an amount of 5 wt % to 20 wt % based on a total amount of the hydrogel electrolyte, and wherein the polymer for the second crosslinked network comprises alginate in an amount of 0.5 wt % to 5 wt % based on the total amount of the hydrogel electrolyte. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The supercapacitor in accordance with claim 8, wherein the one or more ions is selected from the group consisting of Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Al2+, Fe2+ and wherein a concentration of the one or more ions is between 0.01M to 0.5M. ### Claim 18 An electrical component comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrode being spaced apart from each other, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrolyte comprising: a hydrogel including a first crosslinked structure and a second crosslinked structure, and an aqueous solution including a polymer matrix within the aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution includes an ionic crosslinking agent including one or more ions that interact with the second crosslinked structure, wherein the first crosslinked structure includes a covalently bonded structure defined by a plurality of acrylamide chains forming at least one covalent bond with each other, wherein the second crosslinked structure includes an ionically bonded structure defined by a plurality of alginate chains forming at least one ionic bond with the ionic crosslinking agent, and wherein the first and second crosslinked structures are arranged to cooperatively dissipate energy in response to mechanical loads applied onto the electrolyte such that electrochemical performance of the supercapacitor remains substantially unchanged upon the mechanical loads being applied and removed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically conductive plates. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein the electrical component is a super-capacitor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein the electrolyte is configured to elastically deform or elastically flex in response to the mechanical loads applied to the electrical component, while still maintaining capacitor function. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein the ionically crosslinked structure is configured to dissipate energy when the electrical component is subjected to the mechanical loads by rupturing bonds within the ionically crosslinked structure, and further configured to restore bonds when the electrical component is unloaded. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein the covalently bonded structure is configured to provide a bridging structure and to maintain physical boundaries of the electrolyte thereby preventing the electrolyte from separating or dissociating. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, the aqueous solution comprising a salt or acid within the aqueous solution. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein the one or more ions are selected from the group consisting of Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron or Aluminium. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The electrical component in accordance with claim 24, wherein the salt or acid comprising a concentration of 0.1M to 2M. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, the amount of acrylamide comprising 5% weight to 20% weight of a total amount of the electrolyte, and the amount of alginate comprising 0.5% weight to 5% weight of the total amount of the electrolyte. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein each of the first and second electrodes comprises a current collector and an active material coupled to each other. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The electrical component in accordance with claim 28, the current collector of each of the first and second electrodes comprising a material selected from consisting of: carbon nanotube paper, carbon cloth, carbon paper, nickel foam. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The electrical component in accordance with claim 28, the active material of each of the first and the second electrodes comprising polypyrrole (PPy) that is electrodeposited onto the current collector. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) The electrical component in accordance with claim 18, wherein the electrolyte is sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein each electrode comprises a proximal surface and a distal surface, wherein the proximal surfaces of each electrode are proximal to each other and face each other and the distal surfaces are distal to each other, and wherein the electrolyte covers at least each proximal surface of each electrode. ### Claim 32 A method of constructing an electrical component comprising the steps of: forming a first electrode; forming a second electrode; forming an electrolyte; sandwiching the electrolyte between the first electrode and second electrode, the electrolyte comprising: a hydrogel including a first crosslinked structure and a second crosslinked structure; an aqueous solution including a polymer matrix within the aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution includes an ionic crosslinking agent including one or more ions that interact with the second crosslinked structure, wherein the first crosslinked structure includes a covalently bonded structure defined by a plurality of acrylamide chains forming at least one covalent bond with each other, wherein the second crosslinked structure includes an ionically bonded structure defined by a plurality of alginate chains forming at least one ionic bond with the ionic crosslinking agent, and wherein the first and the second crosslinked structures are arranged to cooperatively dissipate energy in response to mechanical loads applied onto the electrolyte such that electrochemical performance of the supercapacitor remains substantially unchanged upon the mechanical loads are applied and removed. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of constructing an electrical component in accordance with claim 32, the step of forming the electrolyte comprising the additional steps of: forming a mixture of a first gel monomer, an initiator and a crosslinking agent in deionized water; adding an alginate into the mixture to form a blend; curing the blend at room temperature or a higher temperature; and soaking the cured blend in an aqueous electrolyte solution. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The method of constructing an electrical component in accordance with claim 32, wherein the first and the second electrodes are formed by the steps of: providing a carbon nanotube paper; and electrochemically depositing polypyrrole (PPy) onto the carbon nanotube paper. ### Claim 35 A method of forming a hydrogel electrolyte for use in an electrical component to provide the electrical component with mechanical robustness and substantially stable electrochemical performance in response to a mechanical load applied to the electrical component, wherein the method comprises the steps of: forming a mixture of a first gel monomer, an initiator and a crosslinking agent in deionized water; adding an alginate into the mixture to form a blend; curing the blend at room temperature or a higher temperature; and soaking the cured blend in an aqueous electrolyte solution. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of forming a hydrogel electrolyte for use in an electrical component to provide the electrical component with mechanical robustness and substantially stable electrochemical performance in response to a mechanical load applied to the electrical component in accordance with claim 35, the hydrogel electrolyte comprising a first crosslinked network and a second crosslinked network, and wherein the first crosslinked network is a covalently bonded network and the second crosslinked network is an ionically bonded network. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method of forming a hydrogel electrolyte for use in an electrical component to provide the electrical component with mechanical robustness and substantially stable electrochemical performance in response to a mechanical load applied to the electrical component in accordance with claim 35, wherein the first gel monomer is an acrylamide monomer, the initiator is ammonium persulphate, and the crosslinking agent is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The method of forming a hydrogel electrolyte for use in an electrical component to provide the electrical component with mechanical robustness and substantially stable electrochemical performance in response to a mechanical load applied to the electrical component in accordance with claim 35, wherein the aqueous electrolyte solution comprises Al2Cl3 and Li2SO4.