Grooved Capacitor Structure to Prevent Short Circuits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage devices are prone to short circuits, which adversely affect capacitance, and there is a need to improve efficiency and reduce costs in renewable energy storage systems.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage device incorporates a substrate with grooves containing capacitor or supercapacitor material, where the faces of the grooves are coated with metal and semiconductor materials, and a gap is maintained between these coatings to prevent short circuits, allowing the voltage to be shared across multiple grooves below the breakdown level, thereby reducing the need for laminated layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If multiple laminated layers are used to increase voltage handling, then voltage capacity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the voltage handling function across multiple independent grooves instead of stacking layers. Each groove acts as an independent voltage division unit, with metal coatings on opposite faces creating separate capacitive elements. This segmentation approach achieves high voltage capacity through parallel arrangement rather than series stacking, simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a vertical stacking approach (multiple layers in the thickness direction) to a lateral arrangement approach (multiple grooves in the planar direction). By utilizing the lateral dimensions of the substrate to arrange multiple grooves, the device achieves high voltage capacity without increasing the number of laminated layers, thus reducing structural complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If metal coatings extend to the bottom of grooves to maximize capacitance, then capacitance is improved, but short circuit risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary dielectric material that fills the grooves between the metal coatings on opposite faces. This dielectric material acts as a mediator that prevents direct electrical contact between the metal coatings, eliminating short circuit risk while allowing the metal coatings to extend close to each other to maximize capacitance. The dielectric material enables the metal coatings to be positioned optimally for capacitance without compromising reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If groove dimensions are reduced to increase groove density, then energy storage density is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs preliminary patterning of the grooves using photolithography and etching processes before applying the metal coatings. By pre-defining the groove geometry, position, and dimensions through these preliminary fabrication steps, the subsequent metal coating and dielectric filling processes can proceed with standard precision requirements. The preliminary groove formation establishes a robust framework that tolerates normal manufacturing variations while maintaining high groove density.
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
This design enhances the reliability of energy storage by minimizing short circuits, reduces voltage breakdown risk, and increases efficiency by sharing voltage across multiple grooves, thus improving the overall performance and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
there is a capacitor or supercapacitor material in the groove
Implementation Method 2
The capacitor material is a high dielectric capacitor material
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An energy storage device comprising a substrate comprising a groove having a first and a second face. A capacitor material in the groove. The first and the second face of the groove having a coat ofmetal. Wherein the coat of metal on the first face is not in electrical contact with the coat of metal on the second face.