Ultracapacitors comprised of mineral microtubules

• US 7,679,883 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GND Engineering, PLLC
• Original Assignee: Naturalnano Research, Inc. (Omni Shrimp, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gunderman, Robert D., Hammond, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ha; Nguyen T
• Application Number:
  US12/145,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 361/502, 361503-504, 361508-512, 361516-519, 361523-529
• US Class Current: 361/502
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/069 comprising a bundle of tubular membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/24 characterised by structural features of the materials making up or comprised in the electrodes, e.g. form, surface area or porosity; characterised by the structural features of powders or particles used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/30 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/52 Separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/54 Electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

Disclosed is an ultracapacitor having electrodes containing mineral microtubules, an electrolyte between the electrodes, and a separator in the electrolyte to provide electrical insulation between the electrodes, while allowing ion flow within the electrolyte. The electrodes may be formed from a paste containing microtubules, a conductive polymer containing mineral microtubules, or an aerogel containing the mineral microtubules. The mineral microtubules may be filled with carbon, a pseudocapacitance material, or a magnetoresistive material. The mineral microtubules may also be coated with a photoconductive material.

Claims

1. An ultracapacitor comprising:

a. a first base electrode;

b. a first electrode coating deposited on said first base electrode wherein said first electrode coating contains mineral microtubules;

c. a second base electrode;

d. a second electrode coating deposited on said second base electrode wherein said second electrode coating contains mineral microtubules;

e. an electrolyte disposed between said first electrode coating and said second electrode coating; and

f. a separator disposed in said electrolyte to provide electrical insulation between said first electrode coating and said second electrode coating, while allowing ion flow within said electrolyte.

2. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrode coatings are paste coatings containing mineral microtubules.

3. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrode coatings are comprised of a conductive polymer containing mineral microtubules.

4. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrode coatings are comprised of a carbon aerogel containing mineral microtubules.

5. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of carbon.

6. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 5, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of a carbon aerogel.

7. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of a pseudocapacitance material.

8. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of a conductive polymer.

9. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said mineral microtubules are filled with a form of carbon.

10. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said mineral microtubules are filled with a pseudocapacitance material.

11. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said mineral microtubules are filled with a magnetoresistive material.

12. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said microtubules are halloysite microtubules.

13. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said microtubules are halloysite microtubules.

14. An ultracapacitor comprising:

a. a first base electrode;

b. a first electrode coating deposited on said first base electrode wherein said first electrode coating contains mineral microtubules;

c. a second base electrode, wherein said first and second base electrodes are comprised of activated carbon;

d. a second electrode coating deposited on said second base electrode wherein said second electrode coating contains mineral microtubules;

e. an electrolyte disposed between said first electrode coating and said second electrode coating; and

f. a separator disposed in said electrolyte to provide electrical insulation between said first electrode coating and said second electrode coating. while allowing ion flow within said electrolyte.