Microbattery separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10388929-B2
Application number	US-201514978535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2015
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

In one example, a battery includes a negative terminal, a positive terminal, an electrolyte contained between the negative terminal and the positive terminal, and a hydrogel layer positioned between and physically separating the negative terminal and the positive terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery comprising:
a first polymer film layer having a trench formed therein;
a first conformal metal layer lining the trench;
a negative terminal positioned in the trench, such that the first conformal metal layer is positioned directly between the first polymer film layer and the negative terminal;
a positive terminal;
an electrolyte contained between the negative terminal and the positive terminal; and
a hydrogel layer positioned between and physically separating the negative terminal and the positive terminal, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a polyethylqlycol-based system with water.

2. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is absorbed in the hydrogel layer.

3. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer includes a photocatalyst.

4. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer has a thickness of between ten and twenty micrometers.

5. The battery of claim 1 , further comprising:
a patterned polymer mesh positioned between and physically separating the negative terminal and the positive terminal, wherein the hydrogel layer fills pores of the patterned polymer mesh.

6. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the patterned polymer mesh comprises a phenoxy-based resin.

7. The battery of claim 6 , wherein the patterned polymer mesh further comprises a photo-package.

8. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the patterned polymer mesh has a pore size of two micrometers square or smaller.

9. The battery of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal surrounding the negative terminal and the hydrogel layer, wherein the first conformal metal layer is positioned directly between the first polymer film layer and the seal.

10. The battery of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second polymer film layer; and
a second conformal metal layer positioned directly between the second polymer film layer and the positive terminal, and directly between the second polymer film layer and the seal.

11. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the second polymer film layer has a mesa formed therein.

12. A battery comprising:
a first polymer film layer having a trench formed therein;
a first conformal metal layer lining the trench;
a negative terminal positioned in the trench, such that the first conformal metal layer is positioned directly between the first polymer film layer and the negative terminal;
a positive terminal;
an electrolyte contained between the negative terminal and the positive terminal;
a hydrogel layer positioned between and physically separating the negative terminal and the positive terminal;
a seal surrounding the negative terminal and the hydrogel layer, wherein the first conformal metal layer is positioned directly between the first polymer film layer and the seal;
a second polymer film layer; and
a second conformal metal layer positioned directly between the second polymer film layer and the positive terminal, and directly between the second polymer film layer and the seal.

13. A battery comprising:
a first polymer film layer having a trench formed therein;
a first conformal metal layer lining the trench;
a negative terminal positioned in the trench, such that the first conformal metal layer is positioned directly between the first polymer film layer and the negative terminal;
a positive terminal;
an electrolyte contained between the negative terminal and the positive terminal;
a hydrogel layer positioned between and physically separating the negative terminal and the positive terminal;
a seal surrounding the negative terminal and the hydrogel layer, wherein the first conformal metal layer is positioned directly between the first polymer film layer and the seal;
a second polymer film layer, wherein the second polymer film layer has a mesa formed therein; and
a second conformal metal layer positioned directly between the second polymer film layer and the positive terminal, and directly between the second polymer film layer and the seal.

Assignees

• IBM
• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Andry Paul S
• Lewandowski Eric
• Toner Adam
• Otts Daniel
• Riall James Daniel
• Yang Cornelia T

Classifications

• H01M50/42 Primary

  Acrylic resins · CPC title

• H01M2300/0085

  Immobilising or gelification of electrolyte · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• H01M6/40

  Printed batteries {, e.g. thin film batteries} · CPC title

• H01M50/423

  Polyamide resins · CPC title