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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016350565-A1
Application number	US-201514442087-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 9, 2015
Priority date	Jan 10, 2014
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

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 and comprising a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and mobile electrons, the conductive structure further comprising a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, wherein the layer of redox-active polymer 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.

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 2 , 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 2 , wherein the layer of redox-active polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, poly(aminoanthraquinone), polyvinylanthraquinone, poly(1-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 detection circuit is configured to detect a change in electrical conductivity of the redox-active polymer in response to a change in the temperature of the conductive structure of 1° C. or greater.

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

8 . The tag apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect a change in electrical conductivity of the redox-active polymer in response to a change in the relative humidity surrounding the conductive structure of 1 percent or greater.

9 . The tag apparatus of claim 2 , 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.

10 . The tag apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the detection circuit comprises one of a voltage detection circuit or a current detection circuit that electrically connected and is integrated on the substrate.

11 . The tag apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the detection circuit comprises a second layer of redox-active polymer film that integrally extends from the layer of redox-active polymer film of the conductive structure.

12 . 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 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.

13 . An active tag apparatus, comprising:
an electrochemical energy storage device comprising: a first electrode layer comprising a first redox-active polymer having mobile ions and electrons, the first electrode having a first redox potential, a second electrode layer comprising a second redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and mobile electrons, the second electrode having a second redox potential higher than the first redox potential, and 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; and a load device operatively coupled to the storage device, wherein under a charge condition, the storage device is configured to be charged through an ionic current flowing through the electrolyte layer between the first and second electrode layers, and wherein under a discharge condition, the first electrode layer is configured to be oxidized and the second electrode is configured to be reduced such that an electronic current flows through a load device.

14 . The active tag apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the difference between the second redox potential and the first redox potential exceeds about 0.5V.

15 . The active tag apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first electrode layer serves as an anode of the electrochemical energy storage device, and wherein the first redox-active polymer comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting polyaniline, poly(aminoanthraquinone), polyvinylanthraquinone, poly(1-aminoanthraquinone) and poly(3,7-dialkylbenzol[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-dione-2,6-diyl).

16 . The active tag apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the second electrode layer serves as a cathode of the electrochemical energy storage device, and wherein the second redox-active polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(1-naphthol) and poly(10-hexylphenothiazine-3,7-diyl).

17 . The active tag apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the load device comprises at least one of an electromagnetic wave transmission device and an electroluminescent device.

18 . The active tag apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the load device is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal or a light signal for a predetermined time period between about 10 seconds and 24 hours.

19 . The active tag apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the load device comprises an ID chip configured to transmit identification information.

20 . The active tag apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the tag apparatus is an active ID device having an antenna configured to receive and transmit an electromagnetic electrical signal using energy from the storage device, the active tag device further comprising:
a conductive structure that comprises the antenna, the conductive structure having a first terminal and a second terminal and configured to receive an electromagnetic signal therebetween, the conductive structure comprising a third redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons and configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electromagnetic signal; and a conversion circuit configured to convert the electromagnetic signal into a DC voltage, wherein the electrochemical energy storage device is configured to be charged in response t

Assignees

• Univ Arizona State

Inventors

• Friesen Cody
• Switzer Elise

Classifications

• H01M2300/0085

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• G06K7/10366 Primary

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• H01M4/606

  containing aromatic main chain polymers · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

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

• H01M10/0436

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