Redox active polymer devices and methods of using and manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11003870-B2
Application number	US-201514442087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2015
Priority date	Jan 10, 2014
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatuses comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to tags and tag devices comprising a redox-active polymer film, and methods of using and manufacturing the same. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a conductive structure formed on the substrate which includes a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons. The conductive structure further includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, where the layer of redox-active polymer is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electrical signal. The apparatus additionally includes a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tag apparatus, comprising: a substrate; a conductive structure formed on the substrate comprising a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are provided at opposing ends of the conductive structure such that the conductive structure is continuous between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the conductive structure comprises a redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and mobile electrons and the redox-active polymer film is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the mobile electrons in response to the electrical signal; and a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure, wherein the detection circuit is further configured to detect and store identification information of the tag apparatus; wherein the redox-active polymer film integrally extends from the conductive structure to at least a portion of the detection circuit; and wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect a change in electrical conductivity of the redox-active polymer film in response to a change in the temperature of the conductive structure of 1° C. or greater or a change in the relative humidity surrounding the conductive structure of 1 percent or greater.

2. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive structure comprises at least one of an antenna, a resistor, an inductor, a capacitor, a diode, a light-emitting element and a transistor.

3. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive structure is an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic electrical signal.

4. The tag apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tag apparatus is a passive identification (ID) device having the antenna configured to receive a radio frequency electromagnetic electrical signal.

5. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the redox-active polymer film comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, poly(aminoanthraquinone), polyvinylanthraquinone, poly(l-aminoanthraquinone), poly(3,7-dialkylbenzol[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-dione-2,6-diyl), poly(1-naphthol), and poly(10-hexylphenothiazine-3,7-diyl).

6. The tag apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the redox-active polymer film comprises a hygroscopic additive selected from the group consisting of a chloride salt, a sulfate salt, a nitrate salt and an organic salt.

7. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit comprises at least one of a voltage detection circuit, a current detection circuit, a photon detection circuit, and an electromagnetic signal detection circuit that is physically separated from the substrate.

8. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit comprises one of a voltage detection circuit or a current detection circuit that is electrically connected and integrated on the substrate.

9. The tag apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the detection circuit integrally extends from the conductive structure.

10. The tag apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tag apparatus is an active ID device having the antenna configured to receive and transmit an electromagnetic electrical signal using energy from an integrated storage device, the tag apparatus further comprising:
a conversion circuit configured to convert the electromagnetic electrical signal into a DC voltage; and
the storage device having a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer configured to receive the DC voltage, the storage device further comprising an electrolyte layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the electrolyte layer comprises a conductive polymer film configured to pass mobile ions therethrough,
wherein the storage device is configured to be charged in response to the DC voltage developed by mobile ions passing between the first and second electrode layers through the electrolyte layer in response to the DC voltage.

11. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the redox-active polymer film comprises an anode material selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, poly(aminoanthraquinone), polyvinylanthraquinone, poly(1-aminoanthraquinone), and poly(3,7-dialkylbenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-dione-2,6-diyl).

12. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the redox-active polymer film comprises a cathode material selected from the group consisting of poly(1-naphthol) and poly(10-hexylphenothiazine-3,7-diyl).

13. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the redox-active polymer film comprises an anode material selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, poly(aminoanthraquinone), polyvinylanthraquinone, poly(1-aminoanthraquinone), and poly(3,7-dialkylbenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-dione-2,6-diyl), and a cathode material selected from the group consisting of poly(l-naphthol) and poly(10-hexylphenothiazine-3,7-diyl).

14. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tag apparatus comprises an area in a range including 0.1 cm 2 and 1 cm 2 .

15. The tag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an electrical conductivity of the redox-active polymer film is configured to vary according to a plurality of values based on environmental conditions.

16. An active tag apparatus, comprising:
a conductive structure formed on a substrate comprising a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween;
an electrochemical energy storage device comprising:
a first electrode layer comprising a first redox-active polymer having mobile ions and electrons, the first electrode layer having a first redox potential;
a second electrode layer comprising a second redox-active polymer having mobile ions and mobile electrons, the second electrode layer having a second redox potential higher than the first redox potential;
an electrolyte layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, the electrolyte layer comprising a conductive polymer film configured to conduct ionic current by passing mobile ions therethrough between the first and second electrode layers, the conductive polymer film further configured to not conduct a substantial amount of electronic current;
an adhesive layer on the first electrode layer;
a protective layer comprising a non-conducting polymer on the second electrode layer that is arranged on an opposite side of the electrochemical energy storage device than the adhesive layer; and
a load device operatively coupled to the electrochemical energy storage device, wherein the bad device comprises an electroluminescent device that comprises at least one of the first redox-active polymer and the second redox-active polymer of the electrochemical energy storage device;
wherein under a charge condition, the electrochemical energy storage device is configured to be charged through an ionic current flowing through the electrolyte layer between the first and second electrode layers,
wherein under a discharge condition, the first electrode layer is configured to be oxidized and the second electrode layer is configured to be reduced such that an electronic current flow s through the load device,
wherein one or both of the first redox-active polymer and the second redox-active polymer integrally extend to form at least portions of the conductive structure and the load device; and
wherein the bad device comprises a detection circuit bad device that is configured to detect a change in electrical conductivity of the conductive structure in response to a change

Assignees

• Univ Arizona State

Inventors

• Friesen Cody
• Switzer Elise

Classifications

• Y02P70/50

  Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product · CPC title

• H01M4/604 Primary

  containing aliphatic main chain polymers · CPC title

• H01M10/05

  Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte (H01M10/39 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M10/0436

  Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment · CPC title

• H01M10/0565

  Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type · CPC title