# US 2022/0278367 A1 · Rechargeable Energy-Storage Device Including Partially-Hydrolyzed Structural Hydrogel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0278367 A1 - Document ID: US20220278367A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/652,556 - Filed: 2022-02-25 - Published: 2022-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-26 - Inventors: Scott M. Epstein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220278367A1 ## CPC - H01M 10/0565: Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type - H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators - H01M 10/0568: characterised by the solutes - H01M 10/058: Construction or manufacture - H01M 4/04: Processes of manufacture in general - H01M 4/583: Carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx - H01M 2300/0002: Aqueous electrolytes - H01M 2300/0085: Immobilising or gelification of electrolyte - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY ## Abstract A rechargeable energy-storage device includes an anode; a cathode; a structural hydrogel disposed between the anode and the cathode, the structural hydrogel having hydrophilic segments and hydrophobic segments; and a porous carbon material disposed between the anode and the cathode. The hydrophilic segments and hydrophobic segments are uniformly distributed within the structural hydrogel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rechargeable energy-storage device comprising: an anode; a cathode; a structural hydrogel disposed between the anode and the cathode, the structural hydrogel having hydrophilic segments and hydrophobic segments; and a porous carbon material disposed between the anode and the cathode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The energy-storage device of claim 1, wherein the structural hydrogel is saturated with an electrolyte. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The energy-storage device of claim 2, wherein the structural hydrogel includes polyanions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The energy-storage device of claim 2, wherein the structural hydrogel is configured to provide a path for ions and charge to pass between the anode and the cathode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The energy-storage device of claim 1, wherein the structural hydrogel is coagulated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The energy-storage device of claim 1, wherein: the structural hydrogel comprises a partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (PH-PAN) material, and the hydrophilic segments are uniformly distributed within the structural hydrogel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The energy-storage device of claim 6, wherein the PH-PAN material is hydrolyzed by about 30% to about 45%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The energy-storage device of claim 1, wherein the porous carbon material is disposed between the structural hydrogel and the anode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The energy-storage device of claim 1, wherein the porous carbon material comprises porous carbon material particles, the porous carbon material particles disposed in the structural hydrogel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The energy-storage device of claim 1, wherein the structural hydrogel is mechanically coupled to the porous carbon material. ### Claim 11 A method of manufacturing a rechargeable energy-storage device, the method comprising: placing an anode material to form at least a portion of a first layer in a container; adding a gelled structural hydrogel to form at least a second layer in the container, the gelled structural hydrogel in physical contact with the anode material, the gelled structural hydrogel having hydrophilic segments and hydrophobic segments; adding a porous carbon material to the container to form at least a portion of a third layer in the container, the second layer between the first and third layers; pushing the porous carbon material toward the anode material such that the porous carbon material is located between the anode material and a volume of the gelled structural hydrogel; adding a cathode material to the container on the volume of the gelled structural hydrogel; and coagulating the gelled structural hydrogel to form a solid structural hydrogel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising saturating the solid structural hydrogel with an electrolyte solution. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the gelled structural hydrogel comprises a partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (PH-PAN) material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the hydrophilic segments and the hydrophobic segments are uniformly distributed within the PH-PAN. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the PH-PAN material is hydrolyzed by about 30% to about 45%. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the coagulating step includes mechanically coupling the solid structural hydrogel to the anode material. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing a rechargeable energy-storage device, the method comprising: placing an anode material to form at least a portion of a first layer in a container; adding a mixed material to form at least a second layer in the container, the mixed material comprising a gelled structural hydrogel and porous carbon material particles, the porous carbon particles disposed in the gelled structural hydrogel; adding a cathode material at least a portion of a third layer in the container, the second layer between the first and third layers; and coagulating the gelled structural hydrogel to form a solid structural hydrogel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: adding the gelled structural hydrogel to the container; adding the porous carbon material particles to the container; and mixing the gelled structural hydrogel and the porous carbon material particles to form the mixed material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising saturating the solid structural hydrogel with an electrolyte solution. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein: the gelled structural hydrogel comprises a partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (PH-PAN) material, and the hydrophilic segments and the hydrophobic segments are uniformly distributed within the PH-PAN.