US5338430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Nanostructured electrode membranes
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1992-12-23
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Granted: 1994-08-16
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Expires: 2012-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A nanostructured composite film comprising a plurality of nanostructured elements, wherein the nanostructured elements are either two-component sub-microscopic structures comprised of whiskers conformally coated with a conducting, preferentially catalytically active material or one component sub-microscopic structures comprised of a conducting preferentially catalytically active material, such that the nanostructured elements are embedded in an encapsulant, wherein the encapsulant can be a solid electrolyte. The composite film can be used as an electrode membrane in an electrochemical cell or sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward E. Parsonage
- 👤 Mark K. Debe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/49; G01N27/403; G01N27/404; G01N27/4045; B; B82; B82B; B82B1/00; H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/10; H01M8/1004; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An electrochemical cell comprising: (a) a working electrode comprising a first encapsulant layer, having a first set of nanostructured elements embedded therein, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded within the encapsulant layer and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the first encapsulant layer, such that the first surface is a conductive surface; (b) a counter electrode comprising a second encapsulant layer, having a second set of nanostructured elements embedded therein, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded within the encapsulant layer and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the second encapsulant layer, such that the first surface is a conductive surface; and (c) at least one electrolyte [such that]provided the electrolyte is in intimate contact with the conductive surface of both sets of nanostructured elements of the working and counter electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An electrochemical cell comprising: (a) a working electrode comprising a first encapsulant layer, having a first set of nanostructured elements embedded therein, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded within the encapsulant layer and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the first encapsulant layer, such that the first surface is a conductive surface; (b) a counter electrode comprising a second encapsulant layer, having a second set of nanostructured elements embedded therein, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded within the encapsulant layer and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the second encapsulant layer, such that the first surface is a conductive surface; and (c) at least one electrolyte [such that]provided the electrolyte is in intimate contact with the conductive surface of both sets of nanostructured elements of the working and counter electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein both sets of nanostructured elements are sub-microscopic two-components structures comprised of whiskers coated with an electrically conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein both sets of nanostructured elements are sub-microscopic one-component structures of an electrically conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is dissolved in either the first or the second encapsulants or both.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the first and second encapsulants are each a solid electrolyte.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, further comprising a reference electrode comprising a third encapsulant having a third set of nanostructured elements embedded therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the second encapsulant of the counter electrode has a low permeability to an analyte and the first encapsulant has a higher permeability to the analyte.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
An analyte sensor comprising in sequential order: (a) a first nanostructured electrode membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a first set of nanostructured elements embedded in a first encapsulant and such membrane has an conductive surface and a nonconductive surface; (b) an electrolyte; and (c) a second nanostructured electrode membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a second set of nanostructured elements embedded in a second encapsulant and such membrane has an conductive surface and a nonconductive surface; wherein the conductive surfaces of the first and second membranes are in intimate contact with the electrolyte.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
An analyte sensor comprising in sequential order: (a) a first nanostructured electrode membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a first set of nanostructured elements embedded in a first encapsulant and such membrane has an conductive surface and a nonconductive surface; (b) an electrolyte; and (c) a second nanostructured electrode membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a second set of nanostructured elements embedded in a second encapsulant and such membrane has an conductive surface and a nonconductive surface; wherein the conductive surfaces of the first and second membranes are in intimate contact with the electrolyte.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The analyte sensor according to claim 8, wherein at least one set of nanostructured elements are sub-microscopic, two-component structures comprised of whiskers coated with an electrically conductive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The analyte sensor according to claim 8, wherein at least one set of nanostructured elements are sub-microscopic one-component structures of an electrically conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The analyte sensor according to claim 8, wherein the electrolyte is a non-solid electrolyte.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The analyte sensor according to claim 8, wherein the electrolyte is a solid electrolyte.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The analyte sensor according to claim 8, wherein the first and second encapsulants have different permeabilities.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
A nanostructured composite film comprising: (a) a plurality of nanostructured elements, wherein the nanostructured elements are acicular, discrete, oriented, sub-microscopic, two-component structures comprised of whiskers coated with a conductive material; and (b) an encapsulant layer, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded within the encapsulant layer and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the encapsulant layer, such that the first surface is a conductive surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
A nanostructured composite film comprising: (a) a plurality of nanostructured elements, wherein the nanostructured elements are acicular, discrete, oriented, sub-microscopic, two-component structures comprised of whiskers coated with a conductive material; and (b) an encapsulant layer, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded within the encapsulant layer and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the encapsulant layer, such that the first surface is a conductive surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The nanostructured composite film according to claim 14, wherein the whiskers are uniaxially oriented normal to the film surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The nanostructured composite film according to claim 14, wherein the catalytically active material is selected from the group consisting of conducting metals, semi-metals and semiconductors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The nanostructured composite film according to claim 14, wherein the encapsulant is a solid electrolyte.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The nanostructured composite film according to claim 17, wherein the encapsulant is a perfluorinated sulfonate ion exchange polymer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nanostructured composite film according to claim 14, wherein an electrolyte is dissolved in the encapsulant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
A nanostructured electrode membrane comprising at least one set of nanostructured elements, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded in a portion of an encapsulating solid electrolyte and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the encapsulating solid electrolyte.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
A nanostructured electrode membrane comprising at least one set of nanostructured elements, wherein one end of each nanostructured element is embedded in a portion of an encapsulating solid electrolyte and the other end of each nanostructured element is coincident with a first surface of the encapsulating solid electrolyte.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The nanostructured electrode membrane according to claim 20, further comprising a second set of nanostructured elements embedded in an encapsulating solid electrolyte polymer, such that the first set and second set of nanostructured elements are on opposite surfaces of the encapsulating solid electrolyte polymer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The nanostructured electrode membrane according to claim 21, wherein the first set of nanostructured elements are coated with a catalytically active material different from the catalytically active material of the second set of nanostructured elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrochemical cell according to claim 2 wherein the first set of nanostructured elements are coated with an electrically conductive material different from an electrically conductive material of the second set of nanostructured elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The nanostructured composite film according to claim 14 further comprising a plurality of nanostructured elements embedded in the surface opposite the first surface, such that both surfaces of the encapsulant layer are conductive surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The nanostructured electrode membrane according to claim 20 further comprising a second set of nanostructured elements embedded in a portion of the surface opposite the first surface, such that both surfaces of the encapsulating solid electrolyte are conductive surfaces.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
The nanostructured electrode membrane according to claim 25 further comprising a third set of nanostructured elements embedded in either the first surface or the second surface of the encapsulating solid electrolyte, such that there are three conductive areas, with two conductive areas on the first surface and one conductive area on the second surface of the encapsulating solid electrolyte.
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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) | 1997-08-15 | 1998-02-14 | 1998-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-15 | 2002-02-14 | 2002-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-15 | 2006-02-14 | 2006-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |