Bio-ionic liquid hydrogels for implantable 3D printed supercapacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable supercapacitors face challenges in miniaturization, biocompatibility, and biodegradability due to cumbersome and expensive fabrication techniques, as well as cytotoxicity and side reactions from materials used, limiting their application in biomedical fields.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible and biodegradable energy storage device is developed using graphene gel electrodes in electrochemical contact with a gel electrolyte functionalized with bio-ionic liquids, such as choline acrylate, which are synthesized using simple and cost-effective methods, allowing for 3D printing of interdigitated structures without the need for masks or molds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional fabrication techniques such as lithography or transfer masks are used to obtain patterned architectures, then manufacturing precision can be achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for masks and molds from the fabrication process. By using direct 3D printing technology, the complex photolithography steps, mask alignment procedures, and mold release processes are completely removed, achieving patterned architectures through direct digital fabrication of the electrolyte and electrode structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical and chemical fabrication processes (lithography, etching, mask application) with a direct 3D printing system that uses controlled material deposition. This substitution enables precise patterning through digital modeling and additive manufacturing, eliminating the need for complex mechanical fabrication toolchains.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional materials are used in solid-state supercapacitors, then energy storage capacity can be achieved, but cytotoxicity and undesirable side reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte by using biocompatible ionic liquids with specific cations and anions that have low cytotoxicity. The electrolyte formulation is optimized to maintain high ionic conductivity and energy storage capacity while using biologically compatible chemical species, thereby eliminating cytotoxic effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite materials consisting of biocompatible polymer matrices combined with ionic liquid electrolytes. This composite structure provides both the mechanical integrity needed for solid-state operation and the high ionic conductivity required for energy storage, while the biocompatible composition eliminates cytotoxicity and side reactions.
3Volume of moving object
If miniaturization is pursued for implantable supercapacitors, then device size is reduced, but fabrication difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the supercapacitor into integrated functional units that are directly printed in miniaturized configurations. The 3D printing process enables the fabrication of small-scale electrodes, electrolytes, and current collectors as integrated components, avoiding the need for separate assembly steps that would be required for conventional miniaturized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The 3D printing process enables self-service fabrication where the device structures are directly built from digital models without requiring external masks, molds, or complex tooling. The printed electrolyte and electrode materials self-assemble into the final miniaturized device configuration, eliminating the need for additional processing steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device exhibits high ionic conductivity, mechanical strength, and stability, with specific capacitance retention up to 10,000 cycles, and demonstrates biocompatibility and degradability, making it suitable for biomedical applications.
Implementation Method 1
The device exhibits high ionic conductivity
Implementation Method 2
specific capacitance retention up to 10,000 cycles
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates in part to a polymer functionalized with a bio-ionic liquid to form a gel electrolyte. The gel electrolyte thus formed is biocompatible and biodegradable. In certain embodiments, the electrolyte is used for making implantable 3D printed energy storage devices.