IP Library Granted Patent US 9,932,239
Granted Patent B2
US 9,932,239 · App. 13/620,493 · Granted Apr 3, 2018

Sheet-like fiber structure, and battery, heat insulation material, waterproof sheet, scaffold for cell culture, and holding material each using the sheet-like fiber structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,932,239
App. No.
13/620,493
Granted
Apr 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sheet-like fiber structure including a plurality of fibers made of amorphous silicon dioxide. The plurality of fibers are intertwined with each other and thus connected to each other, thereby forming void portions. Consequently, the sheet-like fiber structure has not only liquid permeability and voltage resistance but also high heat resistance and chemical resistance. The sheet-like fiber structure is therefore applicable to a separator for preventing a short circuit between electrodes, a scaffold for cell culture, to holding a biomolecule, or the like.

Claims (71)

1. A sheet-like fiber structure comprising:

a silicon substrate,

a plurality of fibers made of amorphous silicon dioxide, each of the plurality of fibers includes a metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Fe, Co, Ni and Au as a core,

wherein each of the plurality of fibers is curled,

the plurality of fibers are disposed on a surface of the silicon substrate,

a plurality of the plurality of fibers have bifurcation areas, in which one fiber bifurcates into two fibers at the bifurcation area,

the plurality of fibers are intertwined with each other and connected to each other, for forming void portions,

a part of each of the plurality of fibers is melted, so that the melted part of one given fiber is bonded to the melted part of another given fiber so as to form a connection portion, and

the density of fibers of the plurality of fibers and the density of connection portions are both greater adjacent the surface of the silicon substrate relative to other portions of the plurality of fibers.

2. The sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 , wherein a length of each given fiber of the plurality of fibers is not less than 1 μm and not more than 500 μm.

3. The sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 , wherein a maximum interval between one given fiber of the plurality of fibers and another given fiber of the plurality of fibers next to the one given fiber is not less than 1 μm and not more than 50 μm.

4. The sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of each given fiber of the plurality of fibers is not less than 0.01 μm and not more than 1 μm.

5. A battery comprising:

the sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 ; and

electrodes sandwiching the sheet-like fiber structure,

wherein the void portions are filled with electrolytic solution.

6. A heat insulation material comprising:

the sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 ; and

substrates sandwiching the sheet-like fiber structure.

7. The heat insulation material of claim 6 , wherein the substrates comprise at least one of glass, silicon, quartz, ceramic, resin, and metal.

8. The heat insulation material of claim 6 , wherein the void portions are vacuum.

9. The heat insulation material of claim 6 , wherein the fibers are formed only at a specified portion between the substrates.

10. A waterproof sheet comprising:

the sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 ,

wherein a surface of each given fiber of the plurality of fibers is surface-modified with a water-repellent film.

11. The waterproof sheet of claim 10 , further comprising

substrates sandwiching the sheet-like fiber structure,

wherein each of the substrates includes a plurality of holes.

12. A scaffold for cell culture, comprising the sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 .

13. The scaffold for cell culture of claim 12 , wherein a surface of each given fiber of the plurality of fibers is surface-modified with a water-repellent film.

14. A holding material comprising the sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 .

15. A sheet-like fiber structure comprising:

a silicon substrate,

a plurality of fibers made of amorphous silicon dioxide, each of the plurality of fibers includes a metal as a core,

wherein each of the plurality of fibers is curled,

the plurality of fibers are disposed on a surface of the silicon substrate,

a plurality of the plurality of fibers have bifurcation area, in which one fiber bifurcates into two fibers at the bifurcation area,

the plurality of fibers are intertwined with each other and connected to each other, for forming void portions,

a part of each of the plurality of fibers is melted, so that the melted part of one given fiber is bonded to the melted part of another given fiber so as to form a connection portion, and

the density of fibers of the plurality of fibers and the density of connection portions are both greater adjacent the surface of the silicon substrate relative to other portions of the plurality of fibers.

16. The sheet-like fiber structure according to claim 15 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Fe, Co, Ni and Au.

17. The sheet-like fiber structure of claim 1 , wherein

the one given fiber and the another given fiber are bonded together without utilizing a binding agent,

a melted bonding portion is formed between the one given fiber and the another given fiber,

the melted bonding portion is made of the same material of the plurality of fibers, and

a length of the melted bonding portion in a direction perpendicular to a long direction of the one given fiber is larger than a diameter distance of the one given fiber.

18. The sheet-like fiber structure according to claim 15 , wherein

the one given fiber and the another given fiber are bonded together without utilizing a binding agent,

a melted bonding portion is formed between the one given fiber and the another given fiber,

the melted bonding portion is made of the same material of the plurality of fibers, and

a length of the melted bonding portion in a direction perpendicular to a long direction of the one given fiber is larger than a diameter distance of the one given fiber.

19. A sheet-like fiber structure comprising:

a first surface,

a second surface,

a plurality of fibers disposed between the first surface and the second surface, made of amorphous silicon dioxide, each of the plurality of fibers includes a metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Fe, Co, Ni and Au as a core,

wherein the first surface is formed as a surface of a joined portion between a silicon substrate and the fibers when the silicon substrate is used as a raw material,

each of the plurality of fibers is curled,

the plurality of fibers have bifurcation areas, in which one fiber bifurcates into two fibers at the bifurcation area,

the plurality of fibers are intertwined with each other and connected to each other, for forming void portions,

a part of each of the plurality of fibers is melted, so that the melted part of one given fiber is bonded to the melted part of another given fiber so as to form a connection portion, and

the density of fibers of the plurality of fibers and the density of connection portions are both greater adjacent the first surface relative to other portions of the plurality of fibers.

20. A sheet-like fiber structure comprising:

a first surface,

a second surface,

a plurality of fibers disposed between the first surface and the second surface, made of amorphous silicon dioxide, each of the plurality of fibers includes a metal as a core,

wherein the first surface is formed as a surface of a joined portion between a silicon substrate and the fibers when the silicon substrate is used as a raw material,

each of the plurality of fibers is curled,

the plurality of fibers have bifurcation area, in which one fiber bifurcates into two fibers at the bifurcation area,

the plurality of fibers are intertwined with each other and connected to each other, for forming void portions,

a part of each of the plurality of fibers is melted, so that the melted part of one given fiber is bonded to the melted part of another given fiber so as to form a connection portion, and

the density of fibers of the plurality of fibers and the density of connection portions are both greater adjacent the first surface relative to other portions of the plurality of fibers.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →