Electrical devices including dendritic metal electrodes
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents, acting for and on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorMichael Kozicki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to electrical devices. The present invention relates more particularly to electrical devices including dendritic metal electrodes. One aspect of the present invention is an electrical device comprising a first electrode comprising at least one dendritic metal structure; a second electrode; and an electrically active structure disposed between the dendritic metal structure and the second electrode.
Claims16
An electrical device comprising:
- a first electrode comprising at least one dendritic metal structure, wherein the at least one dendritic metal structure has a multi-branched and irregular structure;
- a second electrode;
- and
- an electrically active structure disposed between the dendritic metal structure and the second electrode;
- wherein a solid electrolyte is disposed on the electrically active structure;
- wherein the dendritic metal structure is disposed on the solid electrolyte, and wherein the region of the solid electrolyte disposed directly beneath the dendritic metal structure has an increased concentration of metal.
A method for making an electrical structure;
- wherein the electrical structure comprises a first electrode comprising at least one dendritic metal structure, a second electrode, and an electrically active structure disposed between the dendritic metal structure and the second electrode;
- the method comprising:
- disposing the electrically active structure on the second electrode;
- disposing a solid electrolyte on the electrically active structure;
- disposing an anode comprising a metal, and a cathode in electrical contact with the solid electrolyte;
- and
- applying a bias voltage across the cathode and the anode sufficient to grow the dendritic metal structure extending from the cathode, the dendritic metal structure being formed from the metal of the anode.
A method for making an electrical structure;
- wherein the electrical structure comprises a first electrode comprising at least one dendritic metal structure, a second electrode, and an electrically active structure disposed between the dendritic metal structure and the second electrode;
- the method comprising:
- disposing the electrically active structure on the second electrode;
- disposing a solid electrolyte on a transparent substrate;
- disposing an anode comprising a metal, and a cathode in electrical contact with the solid electrolyte;
- applying a bias voltage across the cathode and the anode sufficient to grow the dendritic metal structure extending from the cathode, the dendritic metal structure being formed from the metal of the anode;
- and
- electrically contacting the dendritic metal structure with the electrically active structure.
A method for making an electrical device;
- wherein the electrical device comprises an insulator, and an electrode comprising at least one dendritic structure disposed on the insulator;
- the method comprising:
- disposing a solid electrolyte on the insulator;
- disposing an anode comprising a metal, and a cathode in electrical contact with the solid electrolyte;
- and
- applying a bias voltage across the cathode and the anode sufficient to grow the dendritic metal structure extending from the cathode, the dendritic metal structure being formed from the metal of the anode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.