Thin film electrodes including metal tubes filled with active material and battery cells, and methods of fabrication

US8574767B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Rengaswamy Srinivasan · Ellicott City, US
• Jeffrey P. Maranchi · Clarksburg, US
• Lance M. Baird · Baltimore, US
• Ryan M. Deacon · Colchester, US
• Arthur S. Francomacaro · Eldersburg, US
• Paul J. Biermann · Columbia, US
• Craig B. Leese · Sykesville, US
• Gary E. Peck · Virginia Beach, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 18, 2010
• Grant date: Nov 5, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 9, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49115
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Thin-film electrodes and battery cells, and methods of fabrication. A thin film electrode may be fabricated from a non-metallic, non-conductive porous support structure having pores with micrometer-range diameters. The support may include a polymer film. A first surface of the support is metalized, and the pores are partially metallized to create metal tubes having a thickness within a range of 50 to 150 nanometers, in contact with the metal layer. An active material is disposed within metalized portions of the pores. An electrolyte is disposed within non-metalized portions of the pores. Active materials may be selected to create an anode and a cathode. Non-metalized surfaces of the anode and cathode may be contacted to one another to form a battery cell, with the non-metalized electrolyte-containing portions of the anode facing the electrolyte-containing portions of the cathode pores. A battery cell may be fabricated as, for example, a nickel-zinc battery cell.