Electrolytic cell having an intermediate sub-component connecting layer and process for fabricating same

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an electrolytic cell and associated process for fabrication, wherein the cell utilizes an intermediate sub-component connecting layer. This layer comprises an electrolyte which, in an at least partially cured state, is at least partially sandwiched between an electrolyte on a first sub-component and an electrolyte on a second sub-component. Prior to full curing of the intermediate sub-component connecting layer, the cell is oriented into a desired product configuration. Once such a configuration is obtained, the intermediate sub-component connecting layer is fully cured to, in turn, maintain the cell in the desired product configuration without concern of misalignment or mechanical degradation between the various sub-components and/or the cell.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electrolytic cell having an intermediate sub-component connecting layer comprising: 
 a first electrolytic sub-component having a first electrolyte associated therewith;    a second electrolytic sub-component having a second electrolyte associated therewith; and    an intermediate sub-component connecting layer secured to the first and second electrolytes of the first and second electrolytic sub-components, respectively,    the intermediate sub-component connecting layer comprising an electrolyte of the same or different composition of the first and second electrolytes and having means for facilitating secured operable alignment between the first and second electrolytic sub-components.    
     
     
         2 . The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate sub-component connecting layer further comprises means for enabling rolling and bending of the electrolytic cell without causing mechanical degradation to the electrolytic cell or any of the associated sub-components.  
     
     
         3 . The intermediate sub-component connecting layer according to  claim 1  further including means to enable ionic conductivity.  
     
     
         4 . The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1  wherein the first electrolytic sub-component includes an anode and the second electrolytic sub-component includes a cathode.  
     
     
         5 . The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate sub-component connecting layer comprises a polymerizable electrolyte.  
     
     
         6 . The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate sub-component connecting layer comprises a high molecular weight polymer.  
     
     
         7 . The intermediate sub-component connecting layer according to  claim 1  including means for penetrating into the first and second electrolytes to, in turn, promote securement therebetween.  
     
     
         8 . A process for fabricating an electrolytic cell comprising the steps of: 
 fabricating a first electrolytic sub-component with a first electrolyte;    fabricating a second electrolytic sub-component with a second electrolyte;    applying an intermediate sub-component connecting layer, comprising an at most partially cured electrolyte, on to one of the first and second electrolytes of the first and second electrolytic sub-components, respectively;    attaching the other of the first and second electrolytic sub-components to the intermediate sub-component connecting layer so that at least a portion of the intermediate sub-component connecting layer is sandwiched between the first and second electrolytes;    orientating the electrolytic cell into a desired configuration while enabling relative sliding between the first and second electrolytic sub-components so as to facilitate operative alignment therebetween; and    fully curing the intermediate sub-component connecting layer after the desired configuration and alignment have been obtained to, in turn, maintain the electrolytic cell in the desired configuration after such full curing.    
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the steps of fabricating the first and second electrolytic sub-components further comprise the steps of fabricating at least one of the first and second electrolytic sub-components with an electrolyte which is at most partially cured.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9  further including the steps of: 
 allowing at least a portion of the intermediate sub-component connecting layer to penetrate into at least a portion of the first and second electrolytes prior to the step of fully curing the intermediate sub-component connecting layer; and  
 curing the at least one of the first and second electrolytes.  
 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the first electrolytic sub-component includes an anode and the second electrolytic sub-component includes a cathode.  
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the intermediate sub-component connecting layer comprises an electrolyte having the same composition of at least one of the first and second electrolytes.  
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 8  further including the step of fabricating the intermediate sub-component connecting layer to include a liquid with polymerizable monomers.  
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the intermediate sub-component connecting layer is partially cured prior to the step of applying the intermediate sub-component connecting layer to the one of the first and second electrolytes.