Electrochemical devices comprising compressed gas solvent electrolytes

Abstract

Disclosed are novel electrolytes, and techniques for making and devices using such electrolytes, which are based on compressed-gas solvents. Unlike conventional electrolytes, the disclosed electrolytes are based on “compressed-gas solvents” mixed with various salts, referred to as “compressed gas electrolytes.” Various embodiments of a compressed-gas solvent includes a material that is in a gas phase and has a vapor pressure above atmospheric pressure at a room temperature. The disclosed compressed-gas electrolytes can have wide electrochemical potential windows, high conductivity, low temperature capability and/or high-pressure solvent properties. Examples of a class of compressed gases that can be used as solvent for electrolytes include hydrofluorocarbons, in particular fluoromethane, difluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane, and pentafluoroethane. Also disclosed are battery structures and supercapacitor structures that use compressed gas solvent-based electrolytes, and techniques for constructing such energy storage devices. Techniques for electroplating difficult-to-deposit materials using compressed-gas electrolytes as an electroplating bath are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.