Electronic apparatus and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016293973-A1
Application number	US-201415037305-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2014
Priority date	Dec 12, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus comprising an insulating substrate ( 101 ); at least two charge collectors ( 102, 103 ) spaced apart on the substrate ( 101 ) surface; a proton-generating electrode layer ( 104 ) configured to generate proton charge carriers; a proton-accepting electrode layer ( 105 ) configured to accept the generated proton charge carriers, wherein each of the proton-generating electrode layer ( 104 ) and proton-accepting electrode layer ( 105 ) are configured to be electrically connected to a different one of the respective charge collectors ( 102, 103 ), and to overlap in a junction region such that the charge carriers of the layers can be transferred between the proton-generating ( 104 ) and proton-accepting ( 105 ) electrode layers to thereby generate a voltage.

First claim

1 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
an insulating substrate; at least two charge collectors spaced apart on the substrate surface; a proton-generating electrode layer configured to generate proton charge carriers; a proton-accepting electrode layer configured to accept the generated proton charge carriers, wherein each of the proton-generating electrode layer and proton-accepting electrode layer are configured to be electrically connected to a different one of the respective charge collectors, and to overlap in a junction region such that the charge carriers of the layers can be transferred between the proton-generating and proton-accepting electrode layers to thereby generate a voltage.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the proton-generating electrode layer comprises graphene oxide.

22 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the proton-accepting electrode layer comprises reduced graphene oxide.

23 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the electrode layers comprise one or more of a plurality of fully or partially oxidised graphene flakes.

24 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein protons charge carriers are generated by charge-releasing functional groups, the charge-releasing functional groups comprising one or more of a carboxyl, hydroxyl and epoxy group.

25 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the substrate is at least one of: a flexible substrate; a resilient substrate; and a foldable substrate.

26 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of: a polymer sheet, and glass.

27 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the substrate comprises paper.

28 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the charge collectors comprise silver or copper.

29 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the charge collectors and the electrode layers are printed onto the substrate.

30 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the charge collectors and the electrodes are formed from ink.

31 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the apparatus comprises an electrolyte layer.

32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the electrolyte layer comprises Nafion® or polyvinyl alcohol film.

33 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the apparatus comprises a protective layer covering at least the proton-generating layer, the protective layer comprising a fluid-impermeable material.

34 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the apparatus comprises one or more of a battery cell, a FET and a sensor.

35 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the proton-generating layer is configured to generate proton in response to a fluid being present, such that the voltage produced may be used as an indicator of the amount of fluid present.

36 . A device comprising an array of connected apparatuses as recited in claim 20 , wherein the connected apparatuses are arranged on a common substrate, the connections being configured to allow the apparatuses to act in concert to provide a cumulative effect.

37 . A method for manufacturing an apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an insulating substrate; providing at least two charge collectors spaced apart on the substrate surface; providing a proton-generating electrode layer configured to generate proton charge carriers; providing a proton-accepting electrode layer configured to accept the generated proton charge carriers, wherein each of the proton-generating electrode layer and proton-accepting electrode layer are configured to be electrically connected to a different one of the respective charge collectors, and to overlap in a junction region such that the charge carriers of the layers can be transferred between the proton-generating and proton-accepting electrode layers to thereby generate a voltage.

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein at least one of the charge collectors and the electrodes are provided on the substrate by a printing process.

Assignees

• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Wei Di

Classifications

• H01M2220/30

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

• H01M6/40 Primary

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

• H01M6/32 Primary

  activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components · CPC title

• G01N27/4141

  specially adapted for gases · CPC title

• G01N27/127

  comprising nanoparticles · CPC title