Ultracapacitors comprised of mineral microtubules

• US 20060166810A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,400,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 502/64
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/06 Tubular membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/069 comprising a bundle of tubular membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/08 Flat membrane modules
• 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

An ultracapacitor comprising a first electrode containing mineral microtubules, a second electrode containing mineral microtubules, an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a separator disposed in the electrolyte to provide electrical insulation between the first electrode and the second electrode, while allowing ion flow within the electrolyte. The electrodes may be formed from a paste containing mineral microtubules, or may consist essentially of 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 electrode containing mineral microtubules;

b. a second electrode containing mineral microtubules;

c. an electrolyte disposed between said first electrode and said second electrode; and

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

2. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrodes are formed from a paste containing mineral microtubules.

3. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrodes are comprised of a conductive polymer containing mineral microtubules.

4. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrodes are comprised of an aerogel containing mineral microtubules.

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

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

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

8. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said mineral microtubules are coated with a photoconductive material.

9. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said ultracapacitor further comprises a light-transmissive casing, and at least one of said first and said second electrodes comprises a photoconductive material.

10. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said microtubules include halloysite microtubules.

11. 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.

12. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said first and second electrode coatings are paste coatings containing mineral microtubules.

13. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said first and second electrode coatings are comprised of an a conductive polymer containing mineral microtubules.

14. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said first and second electrode coatings are comprised of an a carbon aerogel containing mineral microtubules.

15. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of carbon.

16. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 15, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of activated carbon.

17. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 15, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of a carbon aerogel.

18. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of a pseudocapacitance material.

19. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said base electrodes are comprised of a conductive polymer.

20. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said mineral microtubules are filled with a form of carbon.

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

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

23. The ultracapacitor as recited in claim 11, wherein said microtubules are halloysite microtubules.