Electrochemical methods, devices, and structures

• US 8,310,130 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Chiang, Yet-Ming, Hall, Steven R., Koyama, Yukinori, Song, Kyungyeol, Chin, Timothy E., Rhyner, Urs, Sapnaras, Dimitrios, Tubilla, Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/041,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/005 Electro-chemical actuators; Actuators having a material for absorbing or desorbing gas, e.g. a metal hydride; Actuators using the difference in osmotic pressure between fluids; Actuators with elements stretchable when contacted with liquid rich in ions, with UV light, with a salt solution
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/021 Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4292 Aspects relating to capacity ratio of electrodes/electrolyte or anode/cathode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/505 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/587 for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/443 Particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/491 Porosity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/30 Deferred-action cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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.

Claims

1. An electrochemical actuator, comprising:

an electrode serving as a donor of an intercalating species; and

a counterelectrode serving as an acceptor of the intercalating species,

wherein at least one of intercalation and de-intercalation of said species in or from said electrode or said counterelectrode produces a change in volume in the actuator, such that a bend or other deformation is induced in at least one of the electrodes.

2. The electrochemical actuator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes undergoes a phase change, anisotropic expansion, or anisotropic contraction upon intercalation.

3. The electrochemical actuator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes includes a high elastic modulus compound.

4. The electrochemical actuator of claim 3, wherein the high elastic modulus compound has an elastic modulus ranging between 10-500 GPa.

5. The electrochemical actuator of claim 3, wherein the high elastic modulus compound has an elastic modulus ranging between 50-150 GPa.

6. The electrochemical actuator of claim 1, wherein the electrode includes lithium metal.