The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 2013
Filed:
Jul. 19, 2010
Rex E. Gerald, Ii, Willow Springs, IL (US);
Katarina J. Ruscic, Chicago, IL (US);
Devin N. Sears, Spruce Grove, CA;
Luis J. Smith, Westborough, MA (US);
Robert J. Klingler, Glenview, IL (US);
Jerome W. Rathke, Homer Glen, IL (US);
Rex E. Gerald, II, Willow Springs, IL (US);
Katarina J. Ruscic, Chicago, IL (US);
Devin N. Sears, Spruce Grove, CA;
Luis J. Smith, Westborough, MA (US);
Robert J. Klingler, Glenview, IL (US);
Jerome W. Rathke, Homer Glen, IL (US);
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a physicochemically-active porous membrane for electrochemical cells that purports dual functions: an electronic insulator (separator) and a unidirectional ion-transporter (electrolyte). The electrochemical cell membrane is activated for the transport of ions by contiguous ion coordination sites on the interior two-dimensional surfaces of the trans-membrane unidirectional pores. One dimension of the pore surface has a macroscopic length (1 nm-1000 μm) and is directed parallel to the direction of an electric field, which is produced between the cathode and the anode electrodes of an electrochemical cell. The membrane material is designed to have physicochemical interaction with ions. Control of the extent of the interactions between the ions and the interior pore walls of the membrane and other materials, chemicals, or structures contained within the pores provides adjustability of the ionic conductivity of the membrane.