Ionic liquid gel for electrolyte, method of and ink for making the same, and printed batteries including such ionic liquid gels and/or electrolytes
The disclosure concerns an electrolyte, an electrolyte ink, a battery or other electrochemical cell including the same, and methods of making the electrolyte and electrochemical cell. The electrolyte includes an ionic liquid comprising a hydrophilic or hydrophobic anion, a multi-valent metal cation suitable for use in a battery cell, a polymer binder, and optional additives (e.g., a solid filler). The electrolyte ink includes components of the electrolyte and a solvent. The solvent and the polymer binder (or, when present, the solid filler) have a hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or polarity similar to or matching that of the ionic liquid's anion, or form hydrogen bonds with the ionic liquid's anion. The electrolyte includes a solid inorganic filler that provides mechanical support form hydrogen bonds with the anion and/or a counterpart anion of the multi-valent metal cation, and links with a material in an adjacent layer of the electrochemical cell.
1. An electrolyte ink for printing an electrolyte layer of an electrochemical cell, the electrolyte ink comprising:
an ionic liquid, comprising a hydroxide anion;
a polymer binder, comprising one of an —OH group, an —NH group, an —SH group, or an —F group;
a solid inorganic filler; and
water.
2. The electrolyte ink of claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises at least one of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIM) hydroxide.
3. The electrolyte ink of claim 1 , further comprising a multi-valent metal cation.
4. The electrolyte ink of claim 3 , wherein the multi-valent metal cation is a zinc ion.
5. The electrolyte ink of claim 1 , wherein the polymer binder comprises an —OH group.
6. The electrolyte ink of claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises a cation, comprising one of imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, pyridinium, or tetraalkyl ammonium.
7. The electrolyte ink of claim 1 , wherein the polymer binder comprises one of polyvinyl alcohol, a poly-alkyl acrylate, a poly[methyl methacrylate], a poly[ethyl methacrylate], cellulose, trifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, vinylidene difluoride hexafluoropropylene, styrene, butadiene, a polyaniline, a polyether, a polyimide, poly-trifluoroethylene, poly-tetrafluoroethylene, poly-vinylidene chloride, poly-ethylene oxide, poly-acrylic acid, poly-methacrylic acid, poly-acrylate, or poly-methacrylate ester.
8. The electrolyte ink of claim 1 , wherein the solid inorganic filler comprises one of silica, alumina, an aluminosilicate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or combinations thereof.
9. An electrolyte layer comprising:
an ionic liquid, comprising a hydroxide anion;
a polymer binder, comprising one of an —OH group, an —NH group, an —SH group, or an —F group; and
a solid inorganic filler.
10. The electrolyte layer of claim 9 , further comprising water.
11. The electrolyte layer of claim 9 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises at least one of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIM) hydroxide.
12. A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
printing an electrolyte ink, over a cathode layer, thereby forming an electrolyte layer, wherein the electrolyte ink comprises:
an ionic liquid, comprising a hydroxide anion;
a polymer binder, comprising one of an —OH group, an —NH group, an —SH group, or an —F group;
a solid inorganic filler; and
water; and
forming an anode layer over the electrolyte layer.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the anode layer comprises an elemental metal.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the electrolyte ink further comprises a multi-valent metal cation of the elemental metal.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the polymer binder of the electrolyte layer mechanically supports the ionic liquid and the multi-valent metal cation.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein printing the electrolyte ink comprises evaporating at least a portion of the water from the electrolyte ink to form the electrolyte layer.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte layer, printed over the cathode layer, has a thickness of less than 20 micrometers.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises at least one of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIM) hydroxide.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte ink further comprises a multi-valent metal cation.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the multi-valent metal cation is a zinc ion.