Liquid composite compositions using non-volatile liquids and nanoparticles and uses thereof

• US 9,120,121 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eSionic Corp.
• Original Assignee: eSionic Corp.
• Inventors: Miller, Seth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MC GINTY, DOUGLAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/030,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20140023884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 136/250, 136/243, 252/500, 252/364, 252/519.4, 252/521.6, 428/145, 428/402, 428/402.24, 428/403
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/326 in electrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/148 Organic/inorganic mixed matrix membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/06 Applying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/10 Applying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/12 Applying particulate materials B05D1/06, B05D1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/18 performed by dipping
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/24 Applying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/12 to obtain a coating with specific electrical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/24 for applying particular liquids or other fluent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/00 Materials not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0009 RRAM elements whose operation depends upon chemical change
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/02 using elements whose operation depends upon chemical change G11C13/0009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 25/00 Digital stores characterised by the use of flowing media; Storage elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/00 Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/56 Solid electrolytes, e.g. gels; Additives therein
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/58 Liquid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/60 characterised by the solvent
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/64 characterised by additives
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 : Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0085 : Immobilising or gelification of electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0091 : in the form of mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0094 : in the form of layered products, e.g. coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/00 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

A solvent composition comprising an organic solvent; dispersed nanoparticles; and a non-volatile electrolyte is provided. A method of forming a liquid composite composition is provided.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a substrate; and

a liquid composite composition formed on the substrate, the liquid composition comprising;

i) a non-volatile liquid; and

ii) nanoparticles, the nanoparticles each having at least one dimension less than 25 nm and being dispersed in the liquid composite composition,

wherein the liquid composite composition comprises at least 20 wt % of the dispersed nanoparticles.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises an ionic liquid.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a mixture of two or more ionic liquids or cation-anion pairs.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a polymerizable ionic liquid.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a non-volatile electrolyte.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the liquid composite composition further comprises lithium salts.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a poly(glycol).

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles have a surface with a pH of below 7 when in water.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticies comprise acidic silicon dioxide.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles comprise a core and a shell, and the shell comprises silicon dioxide.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the core is a material different from the shell.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein the liquid composite composition is a single phase liquid or homogeneous gel.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the single phase liquid or homogeneous gel contains at least about 40 wt. % of the dispersed nanoparticles.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles have at least one dimension in the range of 10-15 nm.

15. A device comprising one or more cells, each cell comprising:

a) a first electrode;

b) an electrolyte composition comprising;

a non-volatile electrolyte and nanoparticles, the nanoparticles each having at least one dimension less than 25 nm and being dispersed in the electrolyte composition, wherein the electrolyte composition comprises at least 20 wt% of the dispersed nanoparticles; and

c) a second electrode;

wherein the electrolyte composition is in contact with one or more of the first and the second electrodes.

16. A battery comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

an electrolyte composition in contact with one or more of the anode and the cathode, wherein the electrolyte composition comprises;

i) a nonvolatile electrolyte; and

ii) nanoparticles, the nanoparticles each having at least one dimension less than 25 nm and being dispersed in the electrolyte composition,

wherein the electrolyte composition comprises at least 20 wt % of the dispersed nanoparticles.

17. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the non-volatile electrolyte comprises an ionic liquid.

18. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the non-volatile electrolyte comprises a non-volatile liquid with dissolved ions.

19. The battery according to claim 18 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a poly(glycol).

20. The battery according to claim 18 wherein the non-volatile liquid further comprises non-volatile carbonate based solvents.

21. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the electrolyte composition further comprises lithium salts.

22. The battery according to claim 21 wherein the lithium salts are comprised of any one or more of lithium hexalluorophosphate (LiPF₆), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCT₃SO₃ or LiOTf), lithium bis(trifittoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Li(CF₃SO₂)₂N or LiTFSI), or mixtures thereof.

23. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the electrolyte composition is a single phase liquid or homogeneous gel.

24. The battery according to claim 23 wherein the single phase liquid or homogeneous gel contains at least about 40 wt. % of the dispersed nanoparticles.

25. The battery according to claim 16, wherein the nanoparticles have at least one dimension in the range of 10-15 nm.

26. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the electrolyte composition functions as both an electrolyte and a separator that electrically insulates the anode from the cathode.

27. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the anode is comprised of lithium metal.

29. A hybrid energy storage system comprising an array of batteries according to claim 16.

28. An electrochemical double layer capacitor (EDLC.;

) comprising;

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

an electrolyte composition in contact with one or more of the first and the second electrodes, wherein the electrolyte composition comprises;

i) a non-volatile electrolyte; and

ii) nanoparticles, the nanoparticles each having at least one dimension less than 25 nm and being dispersed in the liquid composite composition,

wherein the electrolyte composition comprises at least 20 wt % of the dispersed nanoparticles.

48. The hybrid energy storage system comprising an array of electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) according to claim 28.

30. A device comprising:

a substrate; and

a liquid composite composition,

wherein the liquid composite composition is formed by;

applying a solvent composition to the substrate, the solvent composition comprising;

i) an organic solvent;

ii) nanoparticles, the nanoparticles each having at least one dimension less than 25 not and being dispersed in the solvent composition; and

iii) a non-volatile liquid;

wherein the solvent composition contains at least 20 wt.% of the dispersed nanoparticles; and

removing the organic solvent.

31. The device according to claim 30 wherein the substrate comprises one or more electrodes.

32. The device according to claim 30 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises an ionic liquid.

33. The device according to claim 30 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a mixture of two or more ionic liquids or cation-anion pairs.

34. The device according to claim 30 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a polyinerizable ionic liquid.

35. The device according to claim 30 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a non-volatile electrolyte.

36. The device according to claim 30 wherein the liquid composite composition further comprises lithium salts.

37. The device according to claim 30 wherein the non-volatile liquid comprises a poly(glycol).

38. The device according to claim 30 wherein the nanoparticles have a surface with a pH of below 7 when in water.

39. The device according to claim 30, wherein the nanoparticles comprise acidic silicon dioxide.

40. The device according to claim 30, wherein the nanoparticles comprise a core and a shell, and the shell comprises silicon dioxide.

41. The device according to claim 40, wherein the core is a material different from the shell.

42. The device according to claim 30 wherein at least some of the organic solvent is removed to form an electrolyte composition.

43. The device according to claim 42 wherein the electrolyte composition is a single phase liquid or homogeneous gel.

44. The device according to claim 43 wherein the single phase liquid or homogeneous gel contains at least about 40 wt. % of the dispersed nanoparticles.

45. The device according to claim 30 wherein the nanoparticles have at least one dimension in the range of 10 - 15 nm.

46. The device according to claim 30 wherein the step of applying a solvent composition to the substrate further comprises:

first forming the liquid composite composition on a support and then transferring the liquid composite composition atop the substrate.

47. The device according to claim 30 wherein the substrate comprises one or more solid support, and the liquid composite composition is formed on the solid support and is transferred atop the substrate.