Biodegradable electrochemical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022344713-A1
Application number	US-202017753104-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2020
Priority date	Aug 20, 2019
Publication date	Oct 27, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A biodegradable solid aqueous electrolyte composition, an electrochemical device incorporating the electrolyte composition, and methods for the same are provided. The electrolyte composition may include a hydrogel of a copolymer and a salt dispersed in the hydrogel. The copolymer may include at least two polycaprolactone chains attached to a polymeric center block. The electrochemical device may include an anode, a cathode, and the electrolyte composition disposed between the anode and the cathode. The electrolyte composition may include a crosslinked, biodegradable polymeric material that is radiatively curable prior to being crosslinked.

First claim

1 - 63 . (canceled)

64 . An electrochemical device comprising:
an anode; a cathode; and an electrolyte composition disposed between the anode and the cathode, the electrolyte composition comprising a crosslinked, biodegradable polymeric material that is radiatively curable prior to being crosslinked.

65 . The electrochemical device of claim 64 , wherein the biodegradable polymeric material prior to being crosslinked comprises a radiatively curable functional group comprising one or more of an acrylate, a vinyl ether, an allyl ether, an alkene, an alkyne, a thiol, or combinations thereof.

66 . The electrochemical device of claim 64 , wherein the electrolyte composition is derived from a radiatively curable electrolyte precursor composition comprising at least one photoinitiator.

67 . The electrochemical device of claim 64 , further comprising one or more biodegradable substrates.

68 . The electrochemical device of claim 67 , wherein:
the one or more biodegradable substrates are stable to about 120° C.; the one or more biodegradable substrates maintain structural integrity with dimension changes of less than 10% after exposure to about 120° C.; and/or the one or more biodegradable substrates comprise one or more of: polylactic acid (PLA), polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), silk-fibroin, chitosan, polycaprolactone (PCL), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), rice paper, cellulose, or combinations or composites thereof.

69 . The electrochemical device of claim 64 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel comprises water and the crosslinked, biodegradable polymeric material.

70 . The electrochemical device of claim 64 , wherein:
the anode comprises one or more of: Zn, Li, C, Mg, Mg alloys, Zn alloys, or combinations thereof; and/or the cathode comprises one or more of: Fe, MnO 2 , C, Au, Mo, W, MoO 3 , Ag 2 O, Cu, or combinations thereof.

71 . The electrochemical device of claim 64 , wherein:
the anode comprises a first biodegradable binder; and the cathode comprises a second biodegradable binder.

72 . The electrochemical device of claim 71 , wherein the cathode and the anode are disposed in a stacked geometry, or wherein the cathode and the anode are disposed in a lateral X-Y plane geometry.

73 . The electrochemical device of claim 71 , wherein the first or second biodegradable binder comprises one or more of: chitosan, polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), or combinations thereof.

74 . A process for fabricating an electrochemical device, comprising:
providing a biodegradable substrate; depositing an electrode composition; drying the electrode composition thermally; depositing a biodegradable radiatively curable electrolyte composition; radiatively curing the biodegradable radiatively curable electrolyte composition subsequent to thermally drying the electrode composition, wherein the biodegradable substrate is thermally compatible with the thermal drying.

75 . The process for fabricating the electrochemical device of claim 74 , further comprising depositing a second electrode composition, wherein the electrode composition is a metal foil composition, and wherein the second electrode composition is a different metal foil composition.

76 . A biodegradable solid aqueous electrolyte composition comprising a hydrogel of a copolymer and a salt dispersed in the hydrogel, where the copolymer comprises at least two polycaprolactone chains attached to a polymeric center block.

77 . The electrolyte composition of claim 76 , wherein:
the polymeric center block is derived from a naturally occurring biodegradable polymer having at least two free hydroxyl groups; the polymeric center block comprises a hydroxyl-bearing polysaccharide, a biodegradable polyester, or a hydroxy fatty acid; or the polymeric center block comprises polyvinyl alcohol or polybutylene succinate or castor oil.

78 . The electrolyte composition of claim 76 , further comprising a nanomaterial additive, wherein the nanomaterial additive comprises cellulose nanocrystals, chitin nanocrystals, chitosan nanocrystals, starch nanocrystals, silicon oxides, aluminum oxides, layered silicates, lime, or any mixture thereof.

79 . The electrolyte composition of claim 76 , further comprising water and a cosolvent, wherein the cosolvent comprises one or more of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, or combinations thereof.

80 . An electrochemical device, comprising:
an anode; a cathode; and the biodegradable solid aqueous electrolyte composition of claim 76 , wherein the biodegradable solid aqueous electrolyte composition is disposed between the anode and the cathode.

81 . A process for producing a solid aqueous electrolyte, the process comprising:
dissolving a salt and a functionalized copolymer in an aqueous solution, where the copolymer comprises at least two polycaprolactone chains attached to a polymeric center block and is functionalized with a functional group that promotes formation of a hydrogel when the aqueous solution is cured with ultraviolet light; forming a layer of the aqueous solution on a surface; and, curing the aqueous solution with ultraviolet light to form a solid hydrogel comprising the copolymer with the salt dispersed therein.

82 . The process of claim 81 , wherein:
the polymeric center block is derived from a naturally occurring biodegradable polymer having at least two free hydroxyl groups; the polymeric center block comprises a hydroxyl-bearing polysaccharide, a biodegradable polyester or a hydroxy fatty acid; or the polymeric center block comprises polyvinyl alcohol or polybutylene succinate or castor oil.

83 . The process of claim 81 , wherein the layer of the aqueous solution is formed directly onto one or both electrodes of a battery before curing.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp
• Nat Res Council Canada

Inventors

• Chopra Naveen
• Hu Nan-Xing
• Mcguire Gregory
• Black Robert
• Laforgue Alexis
• Lam Edmond
• Leung Chi Woon
• Liu Yali
• Regnier Sophie
• Chapleau Nathalie
• Mokrini Asmae

Classifications

• H01M4/134

  Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys · CPC title

• H01M2004/027

  Negative electrodes · CPC title

• H01M50/403

  Manufacturing processes of separators, membranes or diaphragms · CPC title

• G02F2001/164

  the electrolyte is made of polymers · CPC title

• H01M2300/0082

  Organic polymers · CPC title