University of Alicante

The present invention describes a method that allows manufacture electrodes and/or microelectrodes by selective deposition of superporous nanostructured carbon materials directly by electrospraying of a carbon material suspension with a binder on the current collector.

Electrospraying technique consists on the formation of a steady coaxial jet of the suspension by the action of the Electro-Hydrodynamic (EHD) forces. The suspension is injected through two coaxial needles connected to a HV power supply. Under the action of the electric field, the compound meniscus adopts a conical shape (Taylor cone).

Figure 1. Taylor cone (Source: Wikipedia)

The first step consists on the preparation of a suspension of the superporous nanostructured carbon material, and all the compounds required for the electrode shaping (binder, conductive promoter,…)

Under the optimized experimental conditions, a thin jet is emitted from the tip of the Taylor cone above mentioned. Due to varicose efforts, the jet should break up into charged droplets of submicrometric sizes, which are composed of the carbon materials and the different additives.

These charged particles are moved selectively to the collector, in our case, the own electrode.

This process allows preparing a very thin and homogeneous layer of the active material over the electrode, in such a fast and simple way.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

The method referred in this invention provides the following advantages:

• Solve the complexity and other problems existing in other procedures used to generate electrodes and microelectrodes.

• Carbon materials are selectively deposited, as homogeneous layers, with controllable thickness.

• The process has a high degree of reproducibility, particularly compared with the blade coating technique.

• Does not require subsequent pressing of the electrode to increase the degree of packing.

• Does not require a subsequent heat treatment at elevated temperatures.

• The use of the electrode as current collector increases the efficiency of the process, in terms of selectivity of the deposit on the electrode.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The process here described is simpler than those available nowadays. It reduces the number of necessary stages and his complexity to obtain electrodes from superporous nanostructured carbon materials at room temperature and pressure. Only it needs a later step of drying at low temperature to remove the used solvent.

The invention enables the manufacture of electrodes and microelectrodes for electrochemical and analytical applications, such as energy storage, or as analytical sensors in commercial devices.

At present the technology has been tested in the laboratories of the University of Alicante with successful results.

The present invention belongs to the field of electrochemistry. Particularly, the invention enables the manufacture of electrodes and microelectrodes for electrochemical and analytical applications, such as energy storage, or as analytical sensors in commercial devices.

Companies are looked interested in acquiring this technology for his commercial exploitation by means of agreement of license of the patent.

This technology is protected by a patent application.

• Patent title: “Procedimiento para la fabricación de electrodos o microelectrodos a partir de materiales carbonosos nanoestructurados superporosos mediante electroesprayado, electrodos o microelectrodos obtenidos mediante este procedimiento y usos para aplicaciones electroquímicas y analíticas”

• Number of application: P201531008

• Date of application: 10/07/2015