Printed energy storage device

Abstract

A printed energy storage device includes a first electrode including zinc, a second electrode including manganese dioxide, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode, second, electrode, and separator printed onto a substrate. The device may include a first current collector and/or a second current collector printed onto the substrate. The energy storage device may include a printed intermediate layer between the separator and the first electrode. The first electrode, and the second electrode may include 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C2mimBF4). The first electrode and the second electrode may include an electrolyte having zinc tetrafluoroborate (ZnBF4) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C2mimBF4). The first electrode, the second electrode, the first current collector, and/or the second current collector can include carbon nanotubes. The separator may include solid microspheres.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A printed energy storage device comprising:
 a first electrode;   a printed second electrode comprising a thin film including carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid distributed throughout the thin film; and   a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode.   
     
     
         3 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrode comprises zinc. 
     
     
         4 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 3 , wherein the printed second electrode further comprises manganese dioxide. 
     
     
         5 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise single-wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises:
 a cation selected from the group consisting of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, butyltrimethylammonium, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium, choline, ethylammonium, tributylmethylphosphonium, tributyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium, trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium, 1-ethyl-2,3-methylimidazolium, 1-butyl-1-methylpiperidinium, 1-methyl-1-propylpiperidinium, 1-butyl-2-methylpyridinium, 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium, 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, and diethylmethylsulfonium; and   an anion selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroborate, tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, ethyl sulfate, dimethyl phosphate, methanesulfonate, triflate, tricyanomethanide, dibutylphosphate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis-2,4,4-(trimethylpentyl) phosphinate, an iodide, a chloride, a bromide, and a nitrate.   
     
     
         7 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C 2 mimBF 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises an organic molten salt that is a liquid at temperatures below 100° C. 
     
     
         9 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the first electrode, the printed second electrode and the separator comprises a salt different than the organic molten salt. 
     
     
         10 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the salt comprises zinc. 
     
     
         11 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the salt comprises an anion that is the same as an anion of the ionic liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The printed energy storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the salt comprises zinc tetrafluoroborate. 
     
     
         13 . A layer stack for a printed energy storage device, the layer stack comprising:
 a printed thin film electrode comprising an electrode active material, carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid distributed throughout the printed thin film electrode.   
     
     
         14 . The layer stack of  claim 13 , wherein the electrode active material comprises manganese dioxide. 
     
     
         15 . The layer stack of  claim 13 , wherein the layer stack further comprises a second thin film electrode including zinc. 
     
     
         16 . The layer stack of  claim 15 , wherein the layer stack further comprises a separator layer positioned between the printed thin film electrode and the second thin film electrode. 
     
     
         17 . The layer stack of  claim 13 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise single-wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The layer stack of  claim 13 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises:
 a cation selected from the group consisting of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, butyltrimethylammonium, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium, choline, ethylammonium, tributylmethylphosphonium, tributyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium, trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium, 1-ethyl-2,3-methylimidazolium, 1-butyl-1-methylpiperidinium, 1-methyl-1-propylpiperidinium, 1-butyl-2-methylpyridinium, 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium, 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, and diethylmethylsulfonium; and   an anion selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroborate, tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, ethyl sulfate, dimethyl phosphate, methanesulfonate, triflate, tricyanomethanide, dibutylphosphate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis-2,4,4-(trimethylpentyl) phosphinate, an iodide, a chloride, a bromide, and a nitrate.   
     
     
         19 . The layer stack of  claim 13 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C 2 mimBF 4 ). 
     
     
         20 . The layer stack of  claim 13 , wherein the layer stack further comprises a salt having an anion that is the same as an anion of the ionic liquid. 
     
     
         21 . The layer stack of  claim 13 , wherein the layer stack further comprises a salt comprising zinc tetrafluoroborate.