Electrochemical Pump
First Claim
1. An electrochemical pump comprising an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising:
- a) a first compartment comprising a first electrode and a first electrolyte solution, the first electrolyte solution comprising a first redox couple which participates in a first electrode reaction and a first group of ions, wherein neither of the species of the first redox couple is a gas;
b) a second compartment comprising a second electrode and a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution comprising a second redox couple which participates in a second electrode reaction and a second set of ions, wherein neither of the species of the second redox couple is a gas; and
c) an ion conducting separator separating the first and second compartment, the separator being in fluid communication with the first and second electrolyte solution, wherein the separator has an effective pore diameter of less than about 50 nm.
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Abstract
The invention provides electrochemically-based methods and devices for producing fluid flow and/or changes in fluid pressure. In the methods and devices of the invention, current passes through a divided electrochemical cell. Adjacent compartments of the cell are divided by an ionically conducting separator. Each compartment includes an electrode and an electrolyte solution or ionic liquid. The electrolyte solution(s) or ionic liquid(s) and the ionically conducting separator are selected to obtain the desired relationship between the current through the cell and the fluid flowrate and/or change in fluid pressure.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An electrochemical pump comprising an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising:
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a) a first compartment comprising a first electrode and a first electrolyte solution, the first electrolyte solution comprising a first redox couple which participates in a first electrode reaction and a first group of ions, wherein neither of the species of the first redox couple is a gas; b) a second compartment comprising a second electrode and a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution comprising a second redox couple which participates in a second electrode reaction and a second set of ions, wherein neither of the species of the second redox couple is a gas; and c) an ion conducting separator separating the first and second compartment, the separator being in fluid communication with the first and second electrolyte solution, wherein the separator has an effective pore diameter of less than about 50 nm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A selectively controllable valve, comprising:
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a) an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising;
a first compartment comprising a first electrode and a first electrolyte solution, the first electrolyte solution comprising a first redox couple which participates in a first electrode reaction;
a second compartment comprising a second electrode and a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution comprising a second redox couple which participates in a second electrode reaction; and
an ion conducting separator separating the first and second compartment;b) a fluid pathway in hydraulic communication with the electrochemical cell; and c) a flexible diaphragm in fluid communication with one of the first and second electrolyte solutions, wherein expansion of the flexible diaphragm in response to at least one of the first and second electrode reactions at least partially blocks the fluid pathway. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A microfluidic chip, comprising:
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a) a first pumping fluid reservoir comprising a first electrode and a first electrolyte solution, the first electrolyte solution comprising a first redox couple which participates in a first electrode reaction and a first group of ions, wherein neither of the species of the first redox couple is a gas; b) a second pumping fluid reservoir comprising a second electrode and a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution comprising a second redox couple which participates in a second electrode reaction and a second set of ions, wherein neither of the species of the second redox couple is a gas; c) an ion conducting separator separating the first and second pumping fluid reservoirs, the separator being in fluid communication with the first and second electrolyte solution; d) a barrier in communication with the second pumping fluid reservoir; e) a pumping chamber adjacent the barrier and comprising a volume, the pumping chamber positioned such that expansion of the barrier decreases the volume of the pumping chamber; and f) a microfluidic channel connected to the pumping chamber, whereby expansion of the barrier causes a fluid within the pumping chamber to flow through the microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A microassay device, comprising:
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a) a first compartment comprising a first electrode and a first electrolyte solution, the first electrolyte solution comprising a first redox couple which participates in a first electrode reaction and a first group of ions, wherein neither of the species of the first redox couple is a gas; b) a second compartment comprising a second electrode and a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution comprising a second redox couple which participates in a second electrode reaction and a second set of ions, wherein neither of the species of the second redox couple is a gas; c) an ion conducting separator separating the first and second compartments, the separator being in fluid communication with the first and second electrolyte solution; and d) a reagent container in hydraulic communication with at least one of said first and second compartments. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification