# US 2017/0288280 A1 · Ionic Liquid Gel for Electrolyte, Method of and Ink for Making the Same, and Printed Batteries Including Such Ionic Liquid Gels and/or Electrolytes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288280 A1 - Document ID: US20170288280A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/474,763 - Filed: 2017-03-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Imprint Energy, Inc. - Inventors: Chaojun SHI; Christine C. HO; J. Devin MACKENZIE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288280A1 ## CPC - H01M 10/4235: {Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte (H01M10/4242 takes precedence)} - H01M 4/244: {Zinc electrodes} - H01M 4/38: of elements or alloys - H01M 6/181: {with polymeric electrolytes} - H01M 6/22: Immobilising of electrolyte - H01M 6/40: Printed batteries {, e.g. thin film batteries} - H01M 10/054: Accumulators with insertion or intercalation of metals other than lithium, e.g. with magnesium or aluminium - H01M 10/0565: Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type - H01M 2010/0495: {Nanobatteries} - H01M 2300/0045: Room temperature molten salts comprising at least one organic ion - H01M 2300/0085: Immobilising or gelification of electrolyte - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The disclosure concerns an electrolyte, an electrolyte ink, a battery or other electrochemical cell including the same, and methods of making the electrolyte and electrochemical cell. The electrolyte includes an ionic liquid comprising a hydrophilic or hydrophobic anion, a multi-valent metal cation suitable for use in a battery cell, a polymer binder, and optional additives (e.g., a solid filler). The electrolyte ink includes components of the electrolyte and a solvent. The solvent and the polymer binder (or, when present, the solid filler) have a hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or polarity similar to or matching that of the ionic liquid's anion, or form hydrogen bonds with the ionic liquid's anion. The electrolyte includes a solid inorganic filler that provides mechanical support form hydrogen bonds with the anion and/or a counterpart anion of the multi-valent metal cation, and links with a material in an adjacent layer of the electrochemical cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrolyte, comprising: an ionic liquid comprising a hydrophilic or hydrophobic anion; a multi-valent metal cation suitable for use in an electrochemical cell; and a polymer binder that mechanically supports the electrolyte and that has a porosity, swellability and/or impregnability enabling infusion, impregnation or doping with the ionic liquid and the multi-valent metal cation, the polymer binder optionally containing a solid filler, and the polymer binder and/or (when present) the solid filler having a hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or polarity similar or matched to that of the anion, or forming hydrogen bonds with the anion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrolyte of claim 1, wherein said polymer binder has said porosity enabling infusion, impregnation or doping with the ionic liquid and the multi-valent metal cation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrolyte of claim 1, wherein said ionic liquid comprises said hydrophilic anion, and either (i) said polymer binder forms hydrogen bonds with said hydrophilic anion, or (ii) said hydrophilic anion contains one or more atoms with lone electron pairs that form strong hydrogen bonds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrolyte of claim 1, further comprising water. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrolyte of claim 1, wherein said ionic liquid comprises said hydrophobic anion, and said polymer binder is hydrophobic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrolyte of claim 1, comprising the solid filler, wherein the solid filler is a solid inorganic filler selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, an aluminosilicate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the polymer binder has a hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity similar or matched to that of the anion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrolyte of claim 1, further comprising a solvent included in an amount that is more than 10% by weight of the electrolyte, and that has a hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or polarity similar or matched to that of the anion, or that forms hydrogen bonds with the anion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electrochemical cell, comprising: a cathode layer, the electrolyte of claim 1, and an anode layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein the electrolyte further comprises a solid filler. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein at least one of the cathode layer and the anode layer comprises an elemental metal, and said electrochemical cell remains dimensionally stable and retains electrochemical performance after storage in air at ambient temperature and humidity for at least 30 days. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein the electrochemical cell is a printed battery cell. ### Claim 13 An electrolyte ink, comprising: an ionic liquid comprising a hydrophilic or hydrophobic anion; a multi-valent metal cation suitable for use in an electrochemical cell; a polymer binder that mechanically supports the electrolyte and that has a porosity, swellability and/or impregnability enabling infusion, impregnation or doping with the ionic liquid and the multi-valent metal cation; and a solvent having a hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or polarity similar or matched to that of the anion, or forming hydrogen bonds with the anion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrolyte ink of claim 13, wherein said polymer binder has said porosity enabling infusion, impregnation or doping with the ionic liquid and the multi-valent metal cation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electrolyte ink of claim 13, wherein said ionic liquid comprises said hydrophilic anion, and either (i) said solvent forms hydrogen bonds with said hydrophilic anion, or (ii) said hydrophilic anion contains one or more atoms with lone electron pairs that form strong hydrogen bonds. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrolyte ink of claim 15, further comprising water. ### Claim 17 A method of making an electrolyte, comprising: mixing an ionic liquid comprising a hydrophilic or hydrophobic anion, a multi-valent metal cation suitable for use in an electrochemical cell, a polymer binder, and a solvent having a hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity matched to that of the anion to form a mixture; and forming a layer on a substrate from the mixture. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising mixing a solid inorganic filler with said ionic liquid, said multi-valent metal cation, said polymer binder, and said solvent, wherein said polymer binder or (when present) said solid inorganic filler has a hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity matched to that of the anion, or forms hydrogen bonds with the anion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein forming said layer comprises printing said layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A method of making an electrochemical cell, comprising: forming one of a cathode layer and an anode layer on or over a cell substrate, forming the electrolyte layer on the one of the cathode layer and the anode layer by the method of claim 17, and forming the other of the cathode layer and the anode layer on the electrolyte layer.