Composite Metal Getter for Electrolytic Capacitor Passivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Metal getters used in electrolytic capacitors become passivated in liquid environments, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage from contaminants like hydrogen, as existing solutions such as non-mixed sorbing systems, mixed sorbing systems, and polymeric barriers either fail to prevent passivation or are costly and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A solid, composite getter system comprising a metal getter combined with a palladium compound, where the palladium compound is applied as a coating on the metal getter or integrated within a porous container, inhibiting passivation and maintaining sorption capacity in electrolytic environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymeric barriers are used to shield the getter from electrolyte, then passivation is prevented, but the system becomes expensive and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
A porous barrier layer made of porous material is used instead of dense polymeric barriers. The porous structure provides gas permeability for contaminant sorption while maintaining electrolyte exclusion. This approach simplifies manufacturing compared to complex polymeric barrier systems, as porous materials can be more easily integrated into existing capacitor fabrication processes and may offer better cost-effectiveness.
2Reliability
If a non-mixed sorbing system is used where getters are not mixed with electrolyte, then passivation is reduced, but contaminant removal efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous barrier layer provides a high surface area structure that allows efficient contaminant transport to the getter while maintaining physical separation. The porous network facilitates rapid diffusion of contaminant gases through the barrier, ensuring high removal efficiency despite the non-mixed configuration. This resolves the contradiction by providing both passivation resistance and maintained productivity through the porous architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A thin porous film or shell enclosing the getter provides a large surface area-to-volume ratio, enabling efficient contaminant sorption while maintaining separation from the electrolyte. The thin film design minimizes diffusion path length for contaminants, ensuring high removal efficiency while preventing passivation through physical separation.
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 composite getter system effectively prevents passivation, maintaining sorption capacity and contaminant removal efficiency in electrolytic capacitors, even in liquid environments, without the need for additional barriers or expensive materials.
Implementation Method 1
the combination of the metal getter and palladium compound inhibits passivation of the getter material in the electrolyte solution
Implementation Method 2
a solid, composite getter system comprising a metal getter combined with a palladium compound... maintaining sorption capacity in electrolytic environments
Data Source
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AI summary
Metal getter systems for use in electronic devices are provided. The getter systems taught herein include compartmentalized, metal getter systems for use in electrolytic environments present within electrolytic devices, such as electrolytic capacitors, without the problem of getter passivation. Such systems (50) can include a composite getter system (10) inserted into a central portion of an electrolytic capacitor (50) having a container (51), electrodes (52), and electrical contacts (54, 54').