3-D microbatteries based on interlaced micro-container structures
View Patent ↗An electrical energy storage device ( 20,70 ) includes a substrate ( 22 ), which is formed so as to define a multiplicity of micro-containers separated by electrically-insulating and ion-conducting walls ( 32 ). A first plurality of anodes (A) is disposed in a first subset ( 24 ) of the micro-containers, and a second plurality of cathodes (C) is disposed in a second subset ( 26 ) of the micro-containers. The anodes and cathodes are arranged in an interlaced pattern.
1. An electrical energy storage device, comprising:
a substrate, which is formed so as to define a multiplicity of micro-containers separated by electrically-insulating and ion-conducting walls; and
a first plurality of anodes disposed in a first subset of the micro-containers, and a second plurality of cathodes disposed in a second subset of the micro-containers, the anodes and cathodes arranged in an interlaced pattern.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the walls have pores formed therethrough.
3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the walls comprise a porous separator membrane applied to the substrate using at least one of a micro-molding and a micro-embossing process.
4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein at least some of the pores are filled with an electrolyte.
5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the electrolyte comprises at least one of a liquid electrolyte, a hybrid polymer electrolyte (HPE) and a composite polymer electrolyte (CPE).
6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of silicon, gallium arsenide, silicon carbide, a ceramic material, a thermoplastic polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, a surface-oxidized metal, a sodium-ion conductor and a lithium-ion conductor.
7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second subsets of the micro-containers are formed in a single surface of the substrate.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second subsets of micro-containers are formed in respective opposite surfaces of the substrate.
9. The device according to claim 1 , and comprising at least one current collector coupled to at least one of the plurality of anodes and the plurality of cathodes.
10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the micro-containers have a depth-to-diameter ratio greater than one.
11. A microelectronic device, comprising:
a substrate;
a microcircuit disposed on the substrate; and
an electrical energy storage device disposed in the substrate and coupled to provide electrical power to the microcircuit, the storage device comprising:
a multiplicity of three-dimensional micro-containers formed in the substrate, separated by electrically-insulating and ion-conducting walls; and
a plurality of anodes disposed in a first subset of the micro-containers, and a plurality of cathodes disposed in a second subset of the micro-containers, the anodes and cathodes arranged in an interlaced pattern.
12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the walls have pores formed therethrough.
13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the walls comprise a porous separator membrane applied to the substrate using at least one of a micro-molding and a micro-embossing process.
14. The device according to claim 12 , wherein at least some of the pores are filled with an electrolyte.
15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the electrolyte comprises at least one of a liquid electrolyte, a hybrid polymer electrolyte (HPE) and a composite polymer electrolyte (CPE).
16. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of silicon, gallium arsenide, silicon carbide, a ceramic material, a thermoplastic polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, a surface-oxidized metal, a sodium-ion conductor and a lithium-ion conductor.
17. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second subsets of the micro-containers are formed in a single surface of the substrate.
18. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second subsets of micro-containers are formed in respective opposite surfaces of the substrate.
19. The device according to claim 11 , and comprising at least one current collector coupled to at least one of the plurality of anodes and the plurality of cathodes.
20. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the micro-containers have a depth-to-diameter ratio greater than one.
21. A method for constructing an electrical energy storage device, comprising:
forming a multiplicity of three-dimensional micro-containers in a substrate, so that the micro-containers are separated by electrically-insulating and ion-conducting walls; and
disposing a first plurality of anodes in a first subset of the micro-containers, and a second plurality of cathodes in a second subset of the micro-containers, the anodes and cathodes arranged in an interlaced pattern.
22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein forming the multiplicity of micro-containers comprises forming pores through the separating walls.
23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein forming the multiplicity of micro-containers comprises filling at least some of the pores with an electrolyte.