Nano-pitted Substrate Integrating Current Collector and Electrode Template
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fabricating nanostructured electrodes struggle to integrate nanoscale components with macroscale systems, as insulating substrates cannot serve as current collectors, requiring delicate nanostructured materials to be removed and reconnected, which is challenging for practical application.
Innovation Solution
A nano-pitted substrate is created that serves as both a current collector and a template for growing nanostructured electrodes, allowing for direct deposition and integration of materials like tin oxide or lithium cobalt oxide, using techniques such as sputter-coating and chemical vapor deposition, enabling the formation of nanobatteries and enhancing electrode performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If nanostructured materials are grown on insulating substrates, then electrode nanostructure is formed, but integration with macroscale systems becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the substrate and current collector into one component, the patent enables direct integration of nanostructured electrodes with macroscale battery systems. The conductive substrate provides both the nanostructure growth platform and the electrical connection interface, simplifying the manufacturing process.
2Manufacturing precision
If sputtering is used to deposit material on porous substrates, then coating is formed, but material penetrates poorly into pores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of the substrate to enhance surface area and improve material deposition. The nanopatterned pores provide extensive surface area for coating formation while the conductive nature of the substrate ensures good material penetration and electrical contact throughout the structure.
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 approach allows for the construction of nanobatteries and thin film batteries that maintain the nanostructure integrity, increasing surface area and charge/discharge capacity, and facilitates the integration of nanoscale components into macroscale systems, enhancing their performance and practicality.
Implementation Method 1
The process of nanoscale or microscale deposition of particles by a sputtering process is the ejection of particles from a condensed-matter target due to the impingement of energetic projectile particles onto a substrate
Implementation Method 2
A nanopatterned substrate is created that serves as both a current collector and a template for growing nanostructured electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A process of forming and the resulting nano-pitted metal substrate that serves both as patterns to grow nanostructured materials and as current collectors for the resulting nanostructured material is disclosed herein. The nano-pitted substrate can be fabricated from any suitable conductive material that allows nanostructured electrodes to be grown directly on the substrate.