Electrochemical methods, devices and compositions

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method comprising inducing a first current between a source of a countercharge and a first electrode, the first current being through an electrolyte. In some instances, the first current is not present. A second current, in the form of waveform, is induced across the first electrode, the second current being transverse to the first current, and the second current inducing a relativistic charge across the first electrode. Metal from the electrolyte is deposited on the substrate or corroded from the substrate, among other things. The methods, as well as associated apparatus, improve deposition, bonding, corrosion, and other effects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising: inducing a potential across a surface of an electrode in the presence of a chemical potential between an electrolyte and the surface of the electrode, the induced potential relativistically charging the surface of the electrode, and causing metal to bond to the surface of the electrode, and/or causing metal to corrode at the surface of the electrode. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the relativistic charge causing a metal-metal bond to form between metal from the electrolyte and metal on the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the electrode having a void with a metal edge, the relativistic charge causing the metal-metal bond between metal from the electrolyte and the metal edge to thereby fill the void. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , the void forming a gap between a first portion of the electrode, the first portion having a first edge of the metal edge, and a second portion of the electrode, the second portion with a second edge of the metal edge proximate to the first edge, the relativistic charge causing the metal-metal bond to form between metal from the first edge and metal from the electrolyte and between metal from the second edge and metal from the electrolyte, the bonded metals to thereby bridging the gap to form a unified electrode of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises metal and one or more species selected from the group consisting of water, quaternary ammonium salts, metal chlorides, ionic liquids, ionogels, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises metal particles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the induced potential is chosen from an alternating current (AC) induced potential, or a combination of an AC induced potential and a direct current (DC) induced potential. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the induced potential combines the AC induced potential and the DC induced potential, the DC induced potential offsetting the AC induced potential by an amount less than an electrochemical breakdown of the electrolyte. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , the induced potential having a waveform comprising a plurality of waveforms based on harmonics of one or more frequencies at which the electrolyte or the electrode exhibits absorption at the one or more frequencies. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the induced potential comprises a phase offset of about 90° between an onset frequency and an output amperage. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a signal cancellation to reduce a far-field radiation from the electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , the induced potential having a period similar to a diffusion rate of a component in the electrolyte. 
     
     
         13 . A device comprising:
 a source of a countercharge, and   a first electrode in electrical communication through an electrolyte with the source of a countercharge;   wherein a first current is induced through the electrolyte between the source of a countercharge and the first electrode; and   wherein a second current is induced across the first electrode, the second current conforming to a waveform and being transverse to the first current, and the second current inducing a relativistic charge across the first electrode.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , the electrolyte comprising a metal, the first electrode having a void with a metal edge, the relativistic charge causing a metal-metal bond to form between metal from the electrolyte and the metal edge to thereby fill the void. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , the void forming a gap between a first portion of the first electrode, the first portion having a first edge of the metal edge, and a second portion of the first electrode, the second portion with a second edge of the metal edge proximate the first edge, the relativistic charge causing the metal-metal bond to form between metal from the first edge and metal from the electrolyte and between metal from the second edge and metal from the electrolyte, the bonded metals thereby bridging the gap to form a unified electrode of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a waveform generator to provide the second current with the waveform comprising a plurality of waveforms based on harmonics of one or more frequencies at which the electrolyte or the first electrode exhibits absorption of the one or more frequencies. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a signal canceler to reduce a far-field radiation from the first electrode.