Electrochemical methods, devices, and structures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
- a. a negative electrode;
b. a positive electrode; and
c. an intercalating species;
wherein said negative electrode, positive electrode, or combination thereof comprises aluminum, silver, gold, boron, bismuth, gallium, germanium, indium, lead, antimony, silicon, tin, or a combination thereof, andwherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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Abstract
The present invention provides devices and structures and methods of use thereof in electrochemical actuation. This invention provides electrochemical actuators, which are based, inter-alia, on an electric field-driven intercalation or alloying of high-modulus inorganic compounds, which can produce large and reversible volume changes, providing high actuation energy density, high actuation authority and large free strain.
84 Citations
51 Claims
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1. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode, positive electrode, or combination thereof comprises aluminum, silver, gold, boron, bismuth, gallium, germanium, indium, lead, antimony, silicon, tin, or a combination thereof, and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrochemical pump for pumping a subject fluid, comprising:
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a pump arranged to pump the subject fluid; an electrochemical actuator comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an intercalating species, wherein said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current whereby application of said voltage or current or cessation thereof induces intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes, resulting in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator or one of said electrodes is initially enriched in and serves as a source of said intercalation species whereupon de-intercalation of said species results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator, wherein the pump is coupled to the actuator such that the volumetric and/or dimensional change of the actuator causes the pump to pump the subject fluid. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A one-use, disposable electrochemical pump for pumping a subject fluid, comprising:
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a pump arranged to pump the subject fluid; an electrochemical actuator comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an intercalating species, wherein said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current whereby application of said voltage or current or cessation thereof induces intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes, resulting in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator, wherein the pump is coupled to the actuator such that the volumetric and/or dimensional change of the actuator causes the pump to pump the subject fluid.
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38. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode, positive electrode, or combination thereof comprises a porous aggregate of particles; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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39. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; c. an intercalating species; and d. a porous separator; wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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40. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises aluminum, silver, gold, boron, bismuth, gallium, germanium, indium, lead, antimony, silicon, tin, or a combination thereof; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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41. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises aluminum; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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42. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises silver; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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43. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises gold; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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44. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises boron; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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45. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises bismuth; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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46. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises gallium; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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47. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises germanium; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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48. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises indium; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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49. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises lead; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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50. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises antimony; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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51. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:
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a. a negative electrode; b. a positive electrode; and c. an intercalating species; wherein said negative electrode comprises lithium metal and said positive electrode comprises tin; and wherein, when said electrochemical actuator is subjected to an applied voltage or current, or is permitted to discharge from an initially charged state, intercalation or de-intercalation of said species in at least one of the electrodes of said actuator results in a volumetric or dimensional change of said actuator and linear strain of at least 1% is produced.
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Specification