Selectively permeable nanostructured materials
AssigneeConamix Inc.
InventorsStephen Burkhardt, Christopher A. Simoneau, Larry Beck, Jay J. Farmer
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Abstract
This application relates to nanostructured materials having selectively permeable structures that separate a liquid phase contained within the nanostructure from a volume outside of the nanostructure, and methods of making same. Such materials may be used as electrode materials for secondary batteries or other energy storage devices.
Claims32
A nanostructured material comprising a contained volume that is physically separated from a volume outside of the nanostructure, wherein the contained volume encloses a contained electroactive substance and a contained liquid phase in contact with the contained electroactive substance.
The nanostructured material of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electroactive substance comprises about 20% to about 80% of the contained volume.
The nanostructured material of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contained liquid phase comprises about 20% to about 80% of the contained volume.
An electrode composition comprising the nanostructured material of any one of the preceding claims.
A system comprising a nanostructured material in contact with a first liquid phase, the nanostructured material comprising a contained volume that encloses a contained electroactive substance and a contained liquid phase in contact with the electroactive substance wherein the contained liquid phase is physically separated from the first liquid phase by a selectively permeable membrane and wherein at least one of the first liquid phase and the contained liquid phase comprises substances to which the selectively permeable structure is substantially impermeable.
A method of making a nanostructure comprising the steps of:
- forming a nanoscale particle of an electroactive substance;
- coating the nanoscale particle with a permeable encapsulant to contain the electroactive substance;
- reducing the volume of the contained electroactive substance to create a void space contained within the encapsulant;
- introducing a liquid phase into the void space;
- and
- coating the nanoscale particle with a second encapsulant that is impermeable to one or more of the substances in the liquid phase.
A method of making a nanostructure comprising the steps of:
- forming a nanoscale particle of an electroactive substance;
- coating the nanoscale particle with a permeable encapsulant to contain the electroactive substance;
- reducing the volume of the contained electroactive substance to create a void space contained within the encapsulant;
- introducing a liquid phase into the void space;
- and
- modifying the encapsulant to make it less permeable to one or more substances in the liquid phase.
A method of making a nanostructure comprising the steps of:
- forming a hollow structure with a permeable encapsulant,
- introducing a nanoscale particle of an electroactive substance into the hollow structure,
- introducing a liquid phase into the void space, and
- modifying the encapsulant to make it less permeable to one or more substances in the liquid phase.
A method of making a nanostructure comprising the steps of:
- forming a hollow structure with a permeable encapsulant;
- introducing a liquid phase into the void space comprising a dissolved electroactive substance or precursor to the electroactive substance;
- treating the nanostructure to solidify the dissolved electroactive substance or precursor to the electroactive substance contained in the hollow structure;
- and
- modifying the encapsulant to make it less permeable to one or more substances in the liquid phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.