US5426561A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High energy density and high power density ultracapacitors and supercapacitors
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1994-03-31
•
Granted: 1995-06-20
•
Expires: 2014-03-31
Abstract
Abstract Ultracapacitor and supercapacitor designs wherein two discrete metal film current collectors of the prior art, one for each of the cathode and anode, are replaced by a single thin polymer film. The polymer film is typically several microns thick and metallized on both sides. The thickness of the metallization is varied from several hundred to several thousand Ångstroms depending upon the particular application. This metallization serves as the positive and negative electrodes (current collectors) which are spatially separated by the polymer dielectric film. The resulting reduction of volume increases the volumetric energy density and the reduction of mass increases the gravimetric energy density. The electrolyte solvent/salt system can be selected to provide useful individual cell voltages as high as 5 volts. The voltage is limited only by the electrolytic stability of the solvent and salt. Ultracapacitors fabricated in accordance with the present invention may have energy densities exceeding 10 watt-hours per kilogram and volumetric energy densities exceeding 15 watt-hours per liter. Values which are yet higher are feasible with supercapacitors fabricated in accordance with the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Shiao-Ping S. Yen
- 👤 Carol R. Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G11/00; H01G11/10; H01G11/12; H01G11/22; H01G11/26; H01G11/28; H01G11/30; H01G11/32; H01G11/66; H01G11/68; H01G11/70; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A capacitor comprising: a metalized polymer film having opposing surfaces; each said opposing surface being coated with a layer of metal forming a current collector; a pair of electrode layers, each of said electrode layers formed of a mixture of carbon and electrolyte binder, each of said electrode layers coated respectively onto each of said layers of metal; and an electrolyte in contact with said metal layers and with said carbon and binder mixture layers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A capacitor comprising: a metalized polymer film having opposing surfaces; each said opposing surface being coated with a layer of metal forming a current collector; a pair of electrode layers, each of said electrode layers formed of a mixture of carbon and electrolyte binder, each of said electrode layers coated respectively onto each of said layers of metal; and an electrolyte in contact with said metal layers and with said carbon and binder mixture layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The capacitor recited in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said polymer film is less than ten microns and the thickness of said metal layer is less than 10,000 Angstroms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The capacitor recited in claim 1 wherein said electrolyte binder comprises an elastomeric polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The capacitor recited in claim 1 wherein said electrolyte comprises a non-aqueous solvent/salt system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The capacitor recited in claim 4 wherein said solvent/salt system comprises acetonitrile tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The capacitor recited in claim 1 wherein said electrolyte comprises a solvent taken from the group consisting of propylene carbonate; propylene carbonate/diethylcarbonate; 1, 3 dioxolane; and tetrahydrofuran.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The capacitor recited in claim 1 wherein said electrolyte comprises a salt taken from the group consisting of tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate; tetraethylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate; and tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The capacitor recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one polymeric film cell separator positioned adjacent at least one of said carbon and binder mixture layers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A capacitor comprising: a metalized polymer film having opposing surfaces; each said opposing surface being coated with a layer of metal forming a current collector; a pair of electrode layers, each of said electrode layers formed of material taken from the group consisting of transition metal oxides and hydrous oxides, each of said electrode layers coated respectively onto each of said layers of metal; and an electrolyte in contact with said metal layers and with said group material layers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A capacitor comprising: a metalized polymer film having opposing surfaces; each said opposing surface being coated with a layer of metal forming a current collector; a pair of electrode layers, each of said electrode layers formed of material taken from the group consisting of transition metal oxides and hydrous oxides, each of said electrode layers coated respectively onto each of said layers of metal; and an electrolyte in contact with said metal layers and with said group material layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The capacitor recited in claim 9 wherein the thickness of said polymer film is less than ten microns and the thickness of said metal layer is less than 10,000 Angstroms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The capacitor recited in claim 9 wherein said electrolyte comprises a non-aqueous solvent/salt system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The capacitor recited in claim 11 wherein said solvent/salt system comprises acetonitrile tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The capacitor recited in claim 9 wherein said electrolyte comprises a solvent taken from the group consisting of propylene carbonate; propylene carbonate/diethylcarbonate; 1, 3 dioxolane; and tetrahydrofuran.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The capacitor recited in claim 9 wherein said electrolyte comprises a salt taken from the group consisting of tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate; tetraethylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate; and tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The capacitor recited in claim 9 further comprising at least one polymeric film cell separator positioned adjacent at least one of said carbon and binder mixture layers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
A capacitor comprising: a plurality of cells each such cell having a metalized polymer film having opposed surfaces; each of said opposed surfaces being coated with a layer of metal forming a current collector; a pair of electrode layers, each of said electrode layers formed of an electrode material coated onto each of said metal layers; an electrolyte in contact with said metal layers and with said electrode material layers; and a polymeric film cell separator positioned between the electrode materials of adjacent cells.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
84 words
A capacitor comprising: a plurality of cells each such cell having a metalized polymer film having opposed surfaces; each of said opposed surfaces being coated with a layer of metal forming a current collector; a pair of electrode layers, each of said electrode layers formed of an electrode material coated onto each of said metal layers; an electrolyte in contact with said metal layers and with said electrode material layers; and a polymeric film cell separator positioned between the electrode materials of adjacent cells.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The capacitor recited in claim 16 wherein said electrode material comprises a mixture of carbon and electrolyte binder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The capacitor recited in claim 16 wherein said electrode material comprises a material taken from the group consisting of transition metal oxides and hydrous oxides.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4170812A
Cited
US4313084A
Cited
US4327400A
Cited
US4408259A
Cited
US4480290A
Cited
US4323950A
Cited
US4538208A
Cited
US4480286A
Cited
US4562511A
Cited
US4442473A
Cited
US4731705A
Cited
US4862328A
Cited
JPS6258525A
Cited
US4670814A
Cited
US4734821A
Cited
US4768130A
Cited
US4730239A
Cited
JPS63265414A
Cited
US4877695A
Cited
US5086374A
Cited
US5055975A
Cited
US5047899A
Cited
US5135618A
Cited
US5085955A
Cited
US5079674A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-19 | 1998-12-19 | 1999-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-19 | 2002-12-19 | 2003-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-19 | 2006-12-19 | 2007-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |