US4948490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tetraalkylammonium ion solid electrolytes
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1989-07-28
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Granted: 1990-08-14
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Expires: 2009-07-28
Abstract
Abstract Electrochemically stable, non-hygroscopic ionically conducting solid electrolyte films for use in environmental sensors feature an amount of tetraalkylammonium salt in one or more aprotic solvents together with an amount of organic polymeric matrix material and an amount of a plasticizer, if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 H. V. Venkatasetty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/404; G01N27/4045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
An environmentally stable, solid, ionically conductive electrolyte system consisting essentially of a composite of an amount of plasticizer material, an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic, polymeric complexing matrix material containing donor atoms capable of complexing with the cations of the electrolyte salt wherein the composite is predominately in an amorphous form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
An environmentally stable, solid, ionically conductive electrolyte system consisting essentially of a composite of an amount of plasticizer material, an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic, polymeric complexing matrix material containing donor atoms capable of complexing with the cations of the electrolyte salt wherein the composite is predominately in an amorphous form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electrolyte of claim 1 wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of (CH 3 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 2 H 5 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 3 H 7 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 4 H 9 ) 4 NPF 6 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrolyte of claim 2 wherein said polymeric matrix material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyproplyene oxide, polyvinylidene fluoride and polyacrylonitrile.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrolyte of claim 3 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrolyte of claim 2 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A solid, environmentally stable, ionically conductive electrolyte system in the form of a self-supporting pliable film consisting essentially of a composite of an amount of plasticizer material, an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic polymeric complexing matrix material containing donor atoms capable of complexing with the cation of the electrolyte salt, wherein the composite film material is substantially in an amorphous state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A solid, environmentally stable, ionically conductive electrolyte system in the form of a self-supporting pliable film consisting essentially of a composite of an amount of plasticizer material, an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic polymeric complexing matrix material containing donor atoms capable of complexing with the cation of the electrolyte salt, wherein the composite film material is substantially in an amorphous state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electrolyte of claim 6 wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of (CH 3 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 2 H 5 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 3 H 7 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 4 H 9 ) 4 NPF 6 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrolyte of claim 7 wherein said polymeric matrix material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyproplyene oxide, polyvinylidene fluoride and polyacrylonitrile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrolyte of claim 8 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrolyte of claim 7 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrolyte of claim 6 wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of (C 2 H 5 ) 4 NPF 6 , and (C 4 H 9 ) 4 NPF 6 , and mixtures thereof and wherein said polymeric matrix material is polyethylene oxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrolyte of claim 11 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of making an environmentally stable solid, ionically conductive, thin film electrolyte system comprising the steps of: Preparing a solution by combining an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic, polymeric complexing matrix material, said matrix material being one containing conducting donor atoms capable of complexing with the cations of the electrolyte salt, in an amount of an aprotic organic solvent and an amount of organic plasticizer forming a mixture thereof; coating said mixture on a substrate, to form a film thereof; evaporatively removing said solvent at a temperature in the range from about 30° C. to about 150° C. for a time sufficient to convert the composite consisting essentially of an amount of plasticizer, said electrolyte salt and said complex matrix material to a predominately amorphous form.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of making an environmentally stable solid, ionically conductive, thin film electrolyte system comprising the steps of: Preparing a solution by combining an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic, polymeric complexing matrix material, said matrix material being one containing conducting donor atoms capable of complexing with the cations of the electrolyte salt, in an amount of an aprotic organic solvent and an amount of organic plasticizer forming a mixture thereof; coating said mixture on a substrate, to form a film thereof; evaporatively removing said solvent at a temperature in the range from about 30° C. to about 150° C. for a time sufficient to convert the composite consisting essentially of an amount of plasticizer, said electrolyte salt and said complex matrix material to a predominately amorphous form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said electrolyte salt is selected from the group consisting of (CH 3 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 2 H 5 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 3 H 7 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 4 H 9 ) 4 NPF 6 , and mixtures thereof; wherein said polymeric complexing matrix material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyvinylidene fluoride and polyacrylonitrile; and wherein said aprotic organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, γ-butyrolactone, propylene carbonate, dimethylformamide, tetrahydroforan and combinations thereof and wherein said organic plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of spin coating said mixture on a substrate prior to removal of said solvent and said plasticizer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said electrolyte salt is selected from (C 2 H 5 ) 4 NPF 6 and (C 4 H 9 ) 4 NPF 6 and mixtures thereof, said complexing polymer matrix material is polyethylene oxide, said solvent is propylene carbonate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the polyethylene oxide to salt molar ratio is in the range of 5:1 to 15:1 and the amount of polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether is in the range of 5% to 30% by weight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the polyethylene oxide salt ratio is in the range of 9:1 to 12:1 and the amount of polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether is approximately 20%.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said solvent and plasticizer are removed at a temperature from about 40° C. to 150° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
120 words
An electrochemical sensor comprising: a dielectric substrate; an electrode pattern including working, counter and reference electrodes on said substrate; an environmentally stable, solid, ionically conductive electrolyte system coated on said electrolyte pattern in composite film form and consisting essentially of an amount of plasticizer, an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic polymeric complexing matrix material, said matrix material being one containing donor atoms capable of complexing with the cations of the electrolyte salt wherein said composite is predominately in an amorphous form; and circuit means configured to apply desired potential differences between the working electrode and the reference electrode and including means to measure cell output based on the reduction/oxidation of a species of interest.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
120 words
An electrochemical sensor comprising: a dielectric substrate; an electrode pattern including working, counter and reference electrodes on said substrate; an environmentally stable, solid, ionically conductive electrolyte system coated on said electrolyte pattern in composite film form and consisting essentially of an amount of plasticizer, an amount of symmetrical tetraalkylammonium electrolyte salt and an amount of organic polymeric complexing matrix material, said matrix material being one containing donor atoms capable of complexing with the cations of the electrolyte salt wherein said composite is predominately in an amorphous form; and circuit means configured to apply desired potential differences between the working electrode and the reference electrode and including means to measure cell output based on the reduction/oxidation of a species of interest.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
The electrochemical sensor of claim 20 wherein said symmetrical electrolyte salt is selected from the group consisting of (CH 3 ) 4 NPF 6 (C 2 H 5 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 3 H 7 ) 4 NPF 6 , (C 4 H 9 )NPF 6 , and mixtures thereof; and wherein said polymeric matrix material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyproplyene oxide, polyvinylidene fluoride and polyacrylonitrile.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical sensor of claim 21 wherein said film electrolyte system has a thickness ≦5 mils.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrolyte of claim 21 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electrochemical sensor of claim 20 wherein said electrolyte salt is selected from (C 2 H 5 ) 4 NPH 6 and (C 4 H 9 ) 4 NPF 6 and mixture thereof and said complexing polymer matrix material is polyethylene oxide.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical sensor of claim 24 wherein said film electrolyte system has a thickness ≦5 mils.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrolyte of claim 24 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-13 | 1994-02-12 | 1994-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-02-12 | 1998-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-13 | 2002-02-12 | 2002-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |