Microelectrochemical devices
First Claim
1. A microelectrochemical device comprising at least two electrically conductive electrodes, separated by less than two microns, on an inert insulating substrate overlaid with a conducting polymer polymerized from thiophene or derivatives of thiophene.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Very stable, polymer-based electrochemical devices, formed by polymerization of thiophene or a derivative such as 3-methylthiophene which is durable in an aqueous electrolyte over a wide pH range, which respond rapidly to chemical or electrical signals, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device functions as an extremely sensitive sensor which measures changes in chemical concentration or pH. For example, a poly-3-methylthiophene-based device is sensitive to as little as 8×10-16 moles of an oxidant which reversibly interacts with the polymer, including gas phase oxidants such as I2. In a variation of the polymer-based device, a catalyst such as a noble metal or an enzyme, is dispersed on or within the conducting polymer matrix so that the device is responsive to chemicals such as H2 and O2 which the polymer would otherwise respond very slowly to. In a second embodiment, a polymer-based electrochromic device consists of polymer-coated microelectrodes which are individually addressed. Very high resolution is achieved by separating the microelectrodes by distances on the order of 10,000 Angstroms. In still another embodiment, the polymer-based device functions as a capacitor with an energy density as high as 200-300 J/cm3 which can operate at frequencies as high as 100 Hz. Large polymer-based capacitors are useful for storage of solar energy or as automobile batteries. Microcapacitors may be incorporated into conventional integrated circuit designs.
545 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A microelectrochemical device comprising at least two electrically conductive electrodes, separated by less than two microns, on an inert insulating substrate overlaid with a conducting polymer polymerized from thiophene or derivatives of thiophene.
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7. An electrochromic device comprising one or more individually addressable, electrically conductive electrodes on an inert insulating substrate overlaid with a conducting polymer polymerized from thiophene or a derivative of thiophene, an electrolyte solution, a counter-electrode and an optically transparent material covering the electrolyte and polymer-overlaid electrodes, wherein said polymer-overlaid electrodes are separated by an approximate distance of up to one micron.
- 8. A polymer-based electrochemical device for storing electrical energy comprising two electrically conductive electrodes separated by less than two microns on an inert insulating substrate and an ionic conductor wherein said electrodes are coated with a polymer formed from thiophene or a thiophene derivative and separated by the ionic conductor.
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14. A method for sensing low magnitude chemical or electrical signals comprising:
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providing a device including at least two electrically conductive electrodes separated by less than two microns on an inert insulating substrate, wherein said electrodes are overlaid with a polymer of thiophene or derivatives of thiophene, and detecting signals by measuring changes in conductivity of said polymer that are a result of a change in the state of charge of said polymer which results in a net change in the concentration of ionic species in said polymer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification