Fluid-surfaced electrode
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Abstract
An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface, which may employ a surface energy effect to maintain a position of the fluid surface and/or to modulate flow within the fluid. Fluid-directing structures may also modulate flow or retain fluid in a predetermined pattern. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.
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Citations
256 Claims
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1-99. -99. (canceled)
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100. An electrochemical device, comprising:
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two electrodes including a cathode and an anode; and an electrolyte arranged to conduct an ionic current from a first electrolyte surface in contact with one of the electrodes to a second electrolyte surface in contact with another of the electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes includes an electrochemically active fluid layer having a surface in contact with the electrolyte; and a micropatterned support including a fluid-directing structure configured to direct the electrochemically active fluid according to a predetermined flow pattern. - View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 107, 108, 114, 115, 118, 119, 121, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 210, 211, 212, 215, 223, 231, 233, 234, 237, 239, 240, 241, 243, 245, 246, 248, 252, 255)
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101-103. -103. (canceled)
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106. (canceled)
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109-113. -113. (canceled)
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116-117. -117. (canceled)
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120. (canceled)
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122. (canceled)
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123. A method of supplying electrochemical energy, comprising:
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connecting an electrical load to a first and second electrode separated by an electrolyte arranged to conduct an ionic current from a first electrolyte surface in contact with the first electrode to a second electrolyte surface in contact with the second electrode, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a micropatterned support including a fluid-directing structure; and flowing an electrochemically active fluid along the micropatterned support in a configuration in which the electrochemically active fluid contacts the electrolyte and is directed by the fluid-directing structure to flow according to a predetermined flow pattern.
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124. A method of charging a battery, comprising:
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connecting an electrical potential to a first and second electrode separated by an electrolyte arranged to conduct an ionic current from a first electrolyte surface in contact with the first electrode to a second electrolyte surface in contact with the second electrode, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a micropatterned support including a fluid-directing structure; and flowing an electrochemically active fluid along the micropatterned support in a configuration in which the electrochemically active fluid contacts the electrolyte and is directed by the fluid-directing structure to flow according to a predetermined flow pattern.
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125. A method of charging a battery having an electrode including an electrochemically active fluid layer that flows along a micropatterned solid support and contacts an electrolyte, the method comprising:
refreshing the electrochemically active fluid layer by flowing the electrochemically active fluid along the solid support according to a predetermined flow pattern. - View Dependent Claims (126, 127)
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128. An electrode for a battery, comprising:
an electrochemically active fluid layer that clings to a micropatterned solid support by a surface energy effect, the electrochemically active fluid layer being configured for contact with an electrolyte, and the micropatterned solid support including a fluid-directing structure configured to direct the electrochemically active fluid according to a predetermined flow pattern.
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129. A method of making a battery, comprising:
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coupling an electrolyte with two electrodes including an anode and a cathode, wherein at least one of the electrodes is configured to support an electrochemically active fluid layer in ionic communication with the electrolyte on a micropatterned solid support, the micropatterned solid support including a fluid-directing structure configured to direct the electrochemically active fluid according to a predetermined flow pattern.
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130-194. -194. (canceled)
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195-197. -197. (canceled)
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203-209. -209. (canceled)
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213-214. -214. (canceled)
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216-222. -222. (canceled)
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224-230. -230. (canceled)
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232. (canceled)
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235-236. -236. (canceled)
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238. (canceled)
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242. (canceled)
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244. (canceled)
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247. (canceled)
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249-251. -251. (canceled)
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253-254. -254. (canceled)
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256-257. -257. (canceled)
Specification