US 9,997,775 B1 · Reconfigurable liquid metal and graphene power source

Abstract

A device includes an electrolyte disposed between a layer of graphene and liquid metal. A system based upon the device includes a substrate having first and second layers of graphene and an enclosure disposed thereon. The enclosure encases the first and second layers of graphene and has a channel formed therein. A first end of the channel is disposed over at least a portion of the first layer of graphene and a second end of the channel is disposed over at least a portion of the second layer of graphene. An electrolyte disposed within the channel. Liquid metal is disposed within the electrolyte such that the liquid metal is separated from the first layer of graphene and the second layer of graphene by the electrolyte. The liquid metal is movable within the electrolyte to reconfigure power delivery to different connected loads.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device comprising:

a layer of graphene;
a layer of liquid metal;
and
an electrolyte disposed between and directly contacting both of the layer of graphene and the layer of liquid metal.

1 more element

A method comprising the steps of:

providing a system including a substrate, a first layer of graphene and a second layer of graphene disposed on the substrate, an enclosure having a channel formed therein disposed on the substrate and encasing the first layer of graphene and the second layer of graphene, wherein a first end of the channel is disposed over at least a portion of the first layer of graphene and a second end of the channel is disposed over at least a portion of the second layer of graphene, an electrolyte disposed within the channel, and liquid metal disposed within the electrolyte such that the liquid metal is separated from the first layer of graphene and the second layer of graphene by the electrolyte, wherein the liquid metal is movable within the electrolyte;
and
using an actuation technique to cause the liquid metal to move within the electrolyte until it is at least substantially positioned above one of the first layer of graphene and the second layer of graphene.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reconfigurable liquid metal and graphene power source

Life of this patent

Reconfigurable liquid metal and graphene power source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20