Nanostructured battery having end of life cells
US7618746B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/948
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A cell-array battery is disclosed having end-of-life cells that can be activated at the end of a battery's life to, illustratively, neutralize the toxic chemicals inside the battery. In one embodiment, neutralization of the electrolyte in the battery is achieved through immobilization of the electrolyte at the end of the life of the battery by, for example, a vitrification process. Using electrowetting techniques, the electrolyte is made to contact a neutralizing substance between the nanostructures in one or more end-of-life cells, thus causing a reaction that results in the electrolyte becoming immobilized by, for example, a polymer substance. In a second illustrative embodiment, when the electrolyte contacts the substance between the nanostructures in one or more end-of-life cells, the chemical composition of the electrolyte is changed into a less toxic chemical compound, thus neutralizing the electrolyte.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.