US 7,267,753 B2 · Electrokinetic device having capacitive electrodes

Abstract

An electrokinetic device is capable of operating for extended periods of time, e.g. days to a week, without producing significant gaseous byproducts and without significant evolution of the pump fluid. Features of the electrokinetic device include: the electrodes in the electrokinetic device are capacitive with a capacitance of at least 10−4 Farads/cm2; at least part of the inner surfaces of the electrodes have an area greater than the effective area of the porous dielectric material; at least part of the inner surfaces of the electrodes have a current flux less than 20 microamperes/cm2; and at least part of the inner surfaces of the electrodes have a current flux that varies by less than a factor of two. The electrokinetic device can have one or several of these features in any combination.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An electrokinetic device comprising:

(a) a pair of electrodes capable of having a voltage drop therebetween;
(b) a porous dielectric material between the electrodes;
and
(c) a through-via in liquid communication with the porous dielectric material;
wherein the electrodes are comprised of a material having a capacitance of at least 10−4 Farads per square centimeter and each electrode has an inner surface proximate to the porous dielectric material;
and,
wherein the electrodes are shaped so that the inner surfaces have a current flux of less than about 20 microamperes/cm2 over at least a portion of each inner surface.

4 more elements

An electrokinetic device comprising:

(a) a substrate having a first and a second through-via;
(b) a porous dielectric material located inside the substrate and being in liquid communication with the through-vias;
(c) a first capacitive electrode located on the substrate adjacent to the first through-via, the first capacitive electrode having an inner surface proximate to the first through-via;
(d) a second capacitive electrode located on the substrate adjacent to the second through-via, the second capacitive electrode having an inner surface proximate to the second through-via;
wherein each inner surface has a current flux and wherein the electrodes are shaped so that the current flux varies by less than a factor of two over an area of the inner surfaces greater than an effective area of the porous dielectric material and wherein in the current flux is less than about 20 microamperes/cm2 over an area of the inner surfaces greater than an effective area of the porous dielectric material;
(e) a first flexible barrier encapsulating the first through-via and the first electrode and forming a first reservoir;
(f) a second flexible barrier encapsulating the second through-via and the second electrode and forming a second reservoir;
(g) a first enclosure surrounding the first flexible barrier and having a first port;
(h) a second enclosure surrounding the second flexible barrier and having a second port;
and,
(i) a conduit connecting the first port to the second port.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrokinetic device having capacitive electrodes

Life of this patent

Electrokinetic device having capacitive electrodes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24