Solid-state supercapacitor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9570244-B2
Application number	US-201414540742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	May 12, 2011
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a solid-state supercapacitor. The solid-state supercapacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a solid-state ionogel structure between the first electrode and the second electrode. The solid-state ionogel structure prevents direct electrical contact between the first electrode and the second electrode. Further, the solid-state ionogel structure substantially fills voids inside the first electrode and the second electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for fabricating a solid-state supercapacitor comprising:
providing a first electrode comprising a first conductive supporting structure and a first array of conductive quasi-one-dimensional structures that extend from the first conductive supporting structure;
providing a second electrode comprising a second conductive supporting structure and a second array of conductive quasi-one-dimensional structures that extend from the second conductive supporting structure;
combining a matrix precursor and a hydrolysis precursor to form a sol;
combining the sol and an ionic liquid electrolyte to form pre-ionogel before the sol hardens into a solid;
positioning at least a first portion of the pre-ionogel between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
supporting the first portion of the pre-ionogel until the pre-ionogel hardens into ionogel, which is a solid, thereby forming a solid-state ionogel structure that fills voids within and between the first array of conductive quasi-one-dimensional structures and the second array of conductive quasi-one-dimensional structures.

2. The method for fabricating the solid-state supercapacitor of claim 1 further comprising coating at least a portion of the first conductive nano-structure with a second portion of the pre-ionogel before positioning the first portion of the pre-ionogel between the first electrode and the second electrode.

3. The method for fabricating the solid-state supercapacitor of claim 1 wherein:
forming the first conductive nano-structure comprises using electrophoretic deposition to deposit functionalized carbon nanotubes onto the first conductive supporting structure; and
forming the second conductive nano-structure comprises using electrophoretic deposition to deposit functionalized carbon nanotubes onto the second conductive supporting structure.

4. The method for fabricating the solid-state supercapacitor of claim 1 wherein:
forming the first conductive nano-structure comprises anisotropic etching a portion of the first conductive supporting structure to form the first conductive nano-structure; and
forming the second conductive nano-structure comprises anisotropic etching a portion of the second conductive supporting structure to form the second conductive nano-structure.

5. The method for fabricating the solid-state supercapacitor of claim 1 wherein the matrix precursor is a silicon dioxide matrix precursor.

6. The method for fabricating the solid-state supercapacitor of claim 1 wherein the hydrolysis precursor is an acid.

7. The method for fabricating the solid-state supercapacitor of claim 1 wherein the hydrolysis precursor is formic acid.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Dunn Bruce S
• Chui Chi On
• Jacob Ajey Poovannummoottil
• Membreno Daniel
• Smith Leland

Classifications

• H01G11/84

  Processes for the manufacture of hybrid or EDL capacitors, or components thereof · CPC title

• Y02E60/13

  Energy storage using capacitors · CPC title

• H01G11/86 Primary

  specially adapted for electrodes (carbonisation or activation of carbon for the manufacture of electrodes H01G11/34) · CPC title

• H01G11/56 Primary

  Solid electrolytes, e.g. gels; Additives therein · CPC title

• H01G11/36

  Nanostructures, e.g. nanofibres, nanotubes or fullerenes · CPC title