Water solvated glass/amorphous solid ionic conductors
AssigneesBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System, Universidade Do Porto, Lneg-Laboratorio Nacional De Enegia E Geologia
InventorsJohn B. Goodenough, Maria Helena Sousa Soares De Oliveira Braga, Jose Jorge Do Amaral Ferreira, Preetam Singh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure provides a water-solvated glass/amorphous solid that is an ionic conductor-an electronic insulator, and a dielectric as well as electrochemical devices and processes that use this material, such as batteries, including rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, electrolysis cells, and electronic devices. The electrochemical devices and products use a combination of ionic and electronic conduction as well as internal electric dipoles.
Claims16
A method of forming a dried, water-solvated glass/amorphous solid, the method comprising:
- transforming a crystalline sodium-ion (Na+) or lithium-ion (Li+) electronic insulator or its constituent precursors comprising at least one Na+ or Li+ bonded to oxygen (O), hydroxide (OH), and/or to at least one halide into a water-solvated glass/amorphous Na+ or Li+ ion-conducting solid having a water solvation limit by adding water in an amount less than or equal to the water solvation limit of the glass/amorphous solid;
- heating the water-solvated glass/amorphous Na+ or Li+ ion-conducting solid in an alternating current (ac) or a direct current (dc) electric field to orient dipoles present in the water-solvated glass/amorphous Na+ or Li+ ion-conducting solid;
- and
- cooling the water-solvated glass/amorphous Na+ or Li+ ion-conducting solid to room temperature such that dipoles present in the water-solvated glass/amorphous Na+ or Li+ ion-conducting solid remain oriented.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.