Fabrication methods for batteries

• US 9,761,874 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Zenghe, Otis, Brian, Biederman, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Godo, Olatunji
• Application Number:
  US14/143,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0085 Immobilising or gelification of electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/46 Alloys based on magnesium or aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/92 Metals of platinum group H01M4/94 , H01M4/9058 take precedence
• 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

A method may involve forming a first electrode on a structure, where the first electrode defines an anode of a battery, and where the battery is configured to provide electrical power to a circuit located on the structure. The method may further involve forming a second electrode on the structure, where the second electrode defines a cathode of the battery, and where the second electrode is configured to reduce oxygen. And the method may involve embedding the structure in a polymer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming a first electrode on a structure, wherein the first electrode defines an anode of a battery that uses tear fluid as an electrolyte;

forming a second electrode on the structure, wherein the second electrode defines a cathode of the battery, and wherein the second electrode reduces oxygen; and

embedding the structure in a polymer, wherein the polymer defines a first side and a second side of an eye-mountable device, wherein the battery produces at least one reaction product, and wherein the at least one reaction product is insoluble under physiological pH, such that the at least one reaction product does not disperse into the tear fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tear fluid is able to contact the first and second electrodes by diffusion through the polymer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymer comprises a silicone hydrogel or polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

forming a first channel to the first electrode through the polymer, wherein the tear fluid is able to contact the first electrode via the first channel; and

forming a second channel to the second electrode through the polymer, wherein the tear fluid is able to contact the second electrode via the second channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the polymer comprises a silicone elastomer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, iron, aluminum, an alloy that includes zinc and magnesium, an alloy that includes iron and magnesium, and an alloy that includes aluminum and magnesium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises platinum.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first electrode comprises:

forming a mixture that comprises a metal powder, a photopolymerizable monomer, a crosslinker, and a photoinitiator;

forming a metal layer on the structure;

dispensing the mixture onto the metal layer; and

curing the mixture on the metal layer to form a crosslinked polymer layer in which at least a portion of the metal powder is entrapped.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mixture comprises an ink.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein dispensing the mixture onto the metal layer comprises printing the mixture onto the metal layer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second electrode comprises forming the second electrode by sputtering or evaporation.

12. An eye-mountable device comprising:

a first polymer layer defining a first side of the eye-mountable device;

a second polymer layer defining a second side of the eye-mountable device; and

a structure between the first and second polymer layers, wherein the structure comprises;

a first electrode, wherein the first electrode defines an anode of a battery that uses tear fluid as an electrolyte, and

a second electrode, wherein the second electrode defines a cathode of the battery, wherein the second electrode reduces oxygen, wherein the battery produces at least one reaction product, and wherein the at least one reaction product is insoluble under physiological pH, such that the at least one reaction product does not disperse into the tear fluid.

13. The eye-mountable device of claim 12, wherein the tear fluid is able to contact the first and second electrodes by diffusion through the first polymer layer or the second polymer layer.

14. The eye-mountable device of claim 12, wherein the first polymer layer or the second polymer layer comprises a silicone hydrogel or polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate.

15. The eye-mountable device of claim 12 further comprising:

a first channel to the first electrode through the first polymer layer or second polymer layer, wherein the tear fluid is able to contact the first electrode via the first channel; and

a second channel to the second electrode through the first polymer layer or second polymer layer, wherein the tear fluid is able to contact the second electrode via the second channel.

16. The eye-mountable device of claim 12, wherein the first polymer or the second polymer comprises a silicone elastomer.

17. The eye-mountable device of claim 12, wherein the first electrode comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, iron, aluminum, an alloy that includes zinc and magnesium, an alloy that includes iron and magnesium, and an alloy that includes aluminum and magnesium.

18. The eye-mountable device of claim 12, wherein the second electrode comprises platinum.