Electrochemical devices and methods of fabrication

Abstract

The described invention provides a packaged electrochemical device comprising an electrochemical battery, further comprising at least one electrochemical cell stack and a barrier packaging material. The present invention further provides a method of fabricating the packaged electrochemical device. The present invention further provides a flexible multifunctional liquid-based thermogalvanic cell that converts and stores electricity derived from low grade temperature differentials that exist in ubiquitous scenarios.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical device comprising an electrochemical cell, wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises
 (i) an electrolyte comprising an ionic liquid;   (ii) at least one electrochemical cell stack, comprising:   (1) a first layer containing a positive electrode;   (2) a second layer containing a porous separator;   (3) a third layer containing a negative electrode; and   (iii) a barrier packaging material comprising at least one conformal barrier coating layer deposited at a pressure of less than 1 atm.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second layer containing the porous separator is bonded between the first layer containing the positive electrode and the third layer containing the negative electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier packaging material is conformally deposited over each surface of each side of the electrochemical cell stack. 
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid further comprises a dissolved salt. 
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte further comprises a cosolvent that has a vapor pressure <10 −1  torr. 
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrochemical cell stack further comprises a positive current collector associated with the positive electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrochemical cell stack further comprises a negative current collector associated with the negative electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , the at least one electrochemical cell stack is a bonded microporous electrochemical cell stack that has the ability to store the ionic liquid within its pores. 
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises an electrode composition within the electrochemical stability of water. 
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery cell is a fluoride battery cell. 
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein each conformal barrier coating layer is deposited onto the electrochemical battery at a pressure less than one atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein each conformal barrier coating layer contains at least one para-xylylene polymer variant. 
     
     
         13 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one parylene (paraxylylene polymer) variant is Parylene-C® (para-chloroxylylene). 
     
     
         14 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 11 , wherein each conformal barrier coating layer contains a barrier agent. 
     
     
         15 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 14 , wherein the barrier agent is a hermetic agent. 
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier packaging material comprises alternating layers of a conformal barrier coating layer containing at least one para-xylylene polymer variant and a conformal barrier coating layer comprising a barrier agent. 
     
     
         17 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 15 , wherein the hermetic agent is a metal or metal oxide. 
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein each electrode is optionally associated with a current collector. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein each electrochemical cell stack comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in parallel within the packaged electrochemical device. 
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical device according to  claim 1 , wherein each electrochemical cell stack comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series within the packaged electrochemical device.