Copolymer electrochemical double layer capacitor

A method of making an electrochemical capacitor, comprising:

• forming a first composite electrode having a first polymeric electrochemical layer in contact with a first electrode substrate;
• forming a second composite electrode having a second polymeric electrochemical layer in contact with a second electrode substrate;
• contacting a first surface of an electrolyte membrane to the first polymeric electrochemical layer and contacting a second surface of the electrolyte membrane to the second polymeric electrochemical layer such that the electrolyte membrane is disposed between the first and second composite electrodes, wherein each of the first and second polymeric electrochemical layers independently comprise:
• a plurality of conductive polymer molecules electrically coupled to the corresponding one of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode substrate;
• one or more electrolyte polymer molecules disposed among the conductive polymer molecules;
• and
• one or more unconjugated cross-links corresponding to each of the conductive polymer molecules, each of the conductive polymer molecules being covalently bonded to at least one of the one or more electrolyte polymer molecules by at least one of the one or more unconjugated cross-links;
• and;
• contacting the electrolyte membrane, the first polymeric electrochemical layer, and the second polymeric electrochemical layer with a fluid electrolyte.

A system for preparing an electrochemical capacitor, the system comprising:

• a mixing chamber configured to mix solids and liquids;
• a reagent source coupled to the mixing chamber;
• an electrochemical apparatus coupled to the mixing chamber;
• a sample manipulator coupled to the mixing chamber;
• an electrolyte applicator coupled to the mixing chamber;
• and
• a controller coupled to the mixing chamber, the reagent source, the
• electrochemical apparatus, the sample manipulator, and the electrolyte applicator,
• wherein the controller is configured via executable instructions to:
• control the reagent source to contact one or more conductive polymer monomers to an electrode substrate in the mixing chamber;
• control the electrochemical apparatus to electrochemically polymerize the one or more conductive polymer monomers at the electrode substrate sufficient to form a plurality of precursor conductive polymer molecules, wherein each of the plurality of precursor conductive polymer molecules is electrically coupled to the electrode substrate;
• control the reagent source to provide a cross-link precursor with the one or more conductive polymer monomers or to the plurality of precursor conductive polymer molecules;
• control the polymer applicator to contact one or more precursor electrolyte polymer molecules to the plurality of precursor conductive polymer molecules and the cross-link precursor sufficient to form a cross-linked polymer at the electrode substrate, wherein the cross-linked polymer includes:
• a plurality of conductive polymer molecules electrically coupled to the electrode substrate;
• one or more electrolyte polymer molecules disposed among the conductive polymer molecules;
• and
• one or more unconjugated cross-links corresponding to each of the conductive polymer molecules, each of the conductive polymer molecules being covalently bonded to at least one of the one or more electrolyte polymer molecules by at least one of the one or more unconjugated cross-links;
• and;
• control the sample manipulator to form the cross-linked polymer together with the electrode substrate into a first composite electrode that includes a first polymeric electrochemical layer and a second composite electrode that includes a second polymeric electrochemical layer;
• control the sample manipulator to contact a first surface of an electrolyte membrane to the first polymeric electrochemical layer;
• control the sample manipulator to contact a second surface of the electrolyte membrane to the second polymeric electrochemical layer such that the electrolyte membrane is disposed between the first composite electrode and the second composite electrode;
• and
• control the electrolyte applicator to contact the electrolyte membrane, the first electrochemical layer, and the second electrochemical layer with a fluid electrolyte to form the electrochemical capacitor.