Supercapacitors having a composite solid electrolyte with a dielectric matrix, and methods of their manufacture

1 . A supercapacitor comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

a composite solid electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;

wherein the composite solid electrolyte comprises a dielectric matrix and an ionic conductor disposed in channels/pores in the dielectric matrix, and

the channels forming an interconnected and interlaced network within the dielectric matrix, and the network defining a plurality of non-linear ion-conductive pathways between the first electrode and the second electrode.

2 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein both of the dielectric matrix and the ionic conductor are made of inorganic materials.

3 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric matrix of the composite solid electrolyte has a porosity of 20% or more.

4 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric matrix of the composite solid electrolyte has a porosity in the range of 20%-50%.

5 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the composite solid electrolyte has a thickness of 20 nanometers or less.

6 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric matrix of the composite solid electrolyte is made of Li—(Al 2 O 3 ).

7 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the ionic conductor is made of LiPON.

8 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode, composite solid electrolyte and second electrode form a stack of layers following the three-dimensional shape of pillars or holes in an underlying substrate.

9 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first electrode and second electrode is configured to form an electrical double layer at the interface thereof with the composite solid electrolyte upon application of a potential difference to the first and second electrodes.

10 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each includes a conductive layer and an oxide layer suitable for diffusion/intercalation of ions of the ionic conductor material, said oxide layer being disposed at an interface between the conductive layer and the composite solid electrolyte.

11 . The supercapacitor according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode includes a conductive layer and an oxide layer suitable for diffusion/intercalation of ions of the ionic conductor material, said oxide layer being disposed at an interface between the conductive layer and the composite solid electrolyte, and the second electrode is configured to form an electrical double layer at the interface thereof with the composite solid electrolyte upon application of a potential difference to the first and second electrodes.

12 . A method of fabricating a supercapacitor comprising:

forming a first electrode;

forming on a composite solid electrolyte on the first electrode, wherein the composite solid electrolyte comprises a dielectric matrix and an ionic conductor disposed in channels/pores in the dielectric matrix; and

forming a second electrode on the composite solid electrolyte,

the channels forming an interconnected and interlaced network within the dielectric matrix, the network defining a plurality of non-linear ion-conductive pathways between the first electrode and the second electrode.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the forming of the composite solid electrolyte comprises:

deposition of a hybrid organic-inorganic layer;

elimination of organic components from the deposited hybrid organic-inorganic layer to leave a dielectric matrix having vacant channels/pores therein; and

deposition of ionic conductor material in the channels/pores of the dielectric matrix.