WO2006132595A1 - Laminated battery - Google Patents

Laminated battery Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006132595A1
WO2006132595A1 PCT/SG2005/000176 SG2005000176W WO2006132595A1 WO 2006132595 A1 WO2006132595 A1 WO 2006132595A1 SG 2005000176 W SG2005000176 W SG 2005000176W WO 2006132595 A1 WO2006132595 A1 WO 2006132595A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
current collector
anode
battery structure
laminated battery
catalyst
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SG2005/000176
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ki Bang Lee
Chow Pei Yong
Original Assignee
Agency For Science, Technology And Research
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Agency For Science, Technology And Research filed Critical Agency For Science, Technology And Research
Priority to PCT/SG2005/000176 priority Critical patent/WO2006132595A1/en
Publication of WO2006132595A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006132595A1/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/16Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1097Fuel cells applied on a support, e.g. miniature fuel cells deposited on silica supports
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2300/00Electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0002Aqueous electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0005Acid electrolytes
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02Details
    • H01M8/0202Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50Fuel cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a laminated battery and a process for making it.
  • a battery combined with plastic is required for compatibility with conventional plastic technologies such as plastic molding or hot embossing.
  • Disposable on-demand, acid- and water-activated micro-batteries using chemical reactions in a cavity have been demonstrated for bioMEMS and micro-devices, however a disadvantage with these micro-batteries is that the fabrication processes used to make them commonly use silicon substrates, which hinders compatibility with plastic processes for such micro-devices.
  • a laminated battery structure comprising: - a housing comprising an interior region, and
  • cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, wherein the catalyst is capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
  • the housing may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining the interior region therebetween.
  • the battery structure may have a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode.
  • the separator may comprise a support material and the catalyst may be associated with, or immobilized in and/or on, said support material. Alternatively, if there is no separator, the catalyst may be located (e.g. associated, adsorbed or immobilized) on the current collector, or on a support structure or on some other surface (such as the inner surface of the first and/or second housing portion) of or within the interior region.
  • the activating substance to the catalyst gives rise to a catalysed reaction of the activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte.
  • Reduction of the oxidant at the current collector promotes generation of a potential difference between the current collector and the anode, which is oxidized to release electrons for reduction of the oxidant.
  • the electrolyte may promote or facilitate ionic conduction within the inner region.
  • the anode may be a sacrificial electrode, i.e. it may be consumed during operation of the battery structure.
  • the cell assembly may be a laminated cell assembly. It may be an electrochemical cell assembly.
  • the housing may comprise an access port for allowing access of the activating substance to the catalyst.
  • the access port may communicate with the separator, if present, or with a space abutting the separator or with a cavity or region in which the catalyst is immobilised, through the housing, for example through either the first housing portion or the second housing portion.
  • the access port may be such that, on application of the activating substance to an outer portion of the access port, the activating substance is capable of passing through the access port to the catalyst. It may provide fluid communication between the outer portion of the access port and the catalyst, or between an outer surface of the housing and the catalyst.
  • the access port may be in the form of a hole, a passageway, a channel, a vent, a tube or an aperture through the housing and communicating between the outside of the housing and the interior region.
  • the first and second housing portions may each be flat or planar. They may each be in the form of a sheet. They may be laminated together. They may be integral with each other. They may be joined so as to define the interior region therebetween. They may comprise a plastic material and may comprise a laminatable material.
  • the housing, or one or both of the first and second housing portions, may be joined to at least a portion of the cell assembly by an adhesive or some other means.
  • the current collector and anode may, independently, be in the form of a sheet, a wire or some other form.
  • the current collector and anode may comprise current collector and anode materials respectively.
  • the anode material may be oxidisable by the oxidant.
  • the current collector and anode materials may be dissimilar, and may have different redox potentials.
  • the current collector may be an electrode, and may be a cathode.
  • the anode may be located in an anode compartment and the current collector may be located in a current collector compartment, for example a cathode compartment.
  • the separator if present, may separate the anode compartment from the current collector compartment.
  • the catalyst may comprise a biological catalyst. It may comprise an enzyme, for example glucose oxidase (GOD).
  • GOD glucose oxidase
  • the catalyst may be supported on, adsorbed on, absorbed into, sorbed on or otherwise associated with, a support material, or it may be located (e.g. associated, adsorbed or immobilized) on the current collector, or on a support structure or on some other surface (such as the inner surface of the first and/or second housing portion) of or within the interior region.
  • the oxidant may be, for example, hydrogen peroxide.
  • the activating substance may be a substrate for the enzyme, i.e. an enzyme substrate.
  • the activating substance may be glucose, and the GOD may be capable of converting the glucose to gluconolactone, thereby producing hydrogen peroxide and gluconate ions.
  • the laminated battery structure may have glucose in the interior region, whereby, in use, the glucose reacts with the catalyst to form gluconic acid (or gluconate), said gluconic acid (or gluconate) being capable of functioning as an electrolyte.
  • the separator may be in physical contact with the current collector and/or the anode.
  • the separator may be an ionically conducting separator. It may be a fluidically conducting separator.
  • the ionically conducting separator may be capable of permitting ionic communication between the current collector and the anode following application of the activating substance thereto. It may be capable of absorbing, adsorbing or sorbing the activating substance so as to permit contact between the catalyst and the activating substance.
  • the support material may be porous, microporous, sorbent, adsorbent, absorbent, particulate, microparticulate or in some other form capable of having the catalyst associated therewith, and of permitting ionic communication between the current collector and the anode following application of the activating substance thereto.
  • the housing may have a gas port, for permitting egress of a gas, for example air, from the interior region of the battery structure.
  • the gas port may be in the form of a hole, a passageway, a channel, a vent, a tube or an aperture through the housing and communicating between the outside of the housing and the interior region, for venting a gas from the interior region. It may be disposed at or near the other end of the battery structure from the access port.
  • the access port, and/or the gas port if present, may allow access of a reactive gas, for example oxygen, to the interior region.
  • a reactive gas for example oxygen
  • the reactive gas may be used by the catalyst to produce the oxidant.
  • the reactive gas may be dissolved in or associated with the substrate when it enters the interior region.
  • the current collector and the anode may be electrically connected to, or integral with, a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal respectively.
  • the first and second electrical terminals may, independently, comprise the current collector material or the anode material, or one or more other electrically conductive materials.
  • a suitable material for the first and second terminals may be aluminium.
  • a battery comprising, in combination:
  • anode located within the housing, said anode being capable of supplying electrons for reduction of an oxidant
  • a current collector located within the housing capable of transmitting electrons from the anode for reduction of the oxidant, said current collector being not in physical contact with the anode;
  • the anode and the current collector may define the cavity therebetween.
  • the means to couple may be for example an adhesive, or a glue or some other means to couple or to fasten or to adhere.
  • the means to maintain the cavity may comprise a spacer, or may comprise the housing itself, which may be sufficiently rigid to maintain the cavity. It may comprise the separator, if present, or the support material, if present.
  • a porous material for example paper or pulp, may be present in the cavity for immobilization of the enzyme.
  • the fuel or substrate may comprise glucose.
  • the enzyme or catalyst may comprise glucose oxidase (GOD).
  • the electrolyte may comprise gluconic acid or gluconate.
  • the oxidant may comprise hydrogen peroxide.
  • a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween, and - a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, wherein the catalyst is capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
  • a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween, and - a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode, wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
  • a housing comprising a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material joined so as to define an interior region therebetween, and
  • a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being separated from one another by a separator, wherein the separator comprises a support material and an enzyme adsorbed on said support material, said enzyme being capable of catalyzing reaction of an enzyme substrate to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode, and wherein the housing comprises an access port which communicates with the outside of the housing and with the interior region to allow access of the enzyme substrate to the enzyme and a gas port which communicates with the outside of the housing and with the interior region to vent a gas, for example air, from the interior region of the battery structure.
  • the gas port may be at the other end of the battery structure from the access port.
  • a housing comprising a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material defining an interior region therebetween, and
  • cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a magnesium anode and a copper current collector, said anode and current collector being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the anode and the current collector, wherein the separator comprises a support material and glucose oxidase enzyme associated with said support material, and wherein the housing comprises an access port for allowing access of a glucose solution to the glucose oxidase enzyme, whereby, in use, the glucose oxidase enzyme oxidizes the glucose, thereby generating a potential difference between the anode and the current collector.
  • a laminated battery comprising:
  • a housing comprising an interior region therebetween, - a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, and
  • the housing may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining the interior region therebetween.
  • a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween,
  • cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode, and
  • an ionically conducting fluid comprising an activating substance, said fluid being in contact with the separator, the current collector and the anode, wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst catalyzing reaction of the activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode.
  • the current collector and/or the anode may be in contact with the separator.
  • the laminated battery may comprise a laminated battery structure according to the first aspect of the invention, and an ionically conducting fluid comprising the activating substance, said fluid being in contact with the separator, the current collector and the anode.
  • the laminated battery comprises:
  • a housing comprising a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material defining an interior region therebetween,
  • cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a magnesium anode and a copper current collector, said anode and current collector being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the anode and the current collector, and - a glucose solution in contact with the separator, the magnesium anode and the copper current collector, wherein the separator comprises a support material and glucose oxidase enzyme associated with said support material, whereby the glucose oxidase enzyme catalyses oxidation of the glucose and produces gluconate and hydrogen peroxide, thereby generating a potential difference between the anode and the current collector.
  • a process for making a laminated battery structure comprising:
  • the cell assembly comprises a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region;
  • said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
  • the cell assembly may have a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode.
  • the separator may comprise a support material and the catalyst may be associated with said support material.
  • the cell assembly comprises a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode;
  • the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode.
  • the step of joining may comprise applying pressure and/or heat to the first and second housing portions, and may involve laminating the first and second housing portions having the cell assembly therebetween.
  • the joining may comprise adhering the first housing portion to the second housing portion, for example by means of a glue, an adhesive or a gum.
  • the process may comprise forming an aperture in the housing. It may comprise forming an aperture in at least one of the first and second housing portions. The aperture being capable of being used as an access port for allowing access of the activating substance to the catalyst. The step of forming the aperture may be conducted before, during or after locating the cell assembly between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The process may also comprise forming a second aperture in at least one of the first and second housing portions, said second aperture being capable of being used as a gas port for allowing egress of a gas from an interior region of the battery structure. The step of forming the second aperture may be conducted before, during or after locating the cell assembly between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The process may also comprise attaching a first electrical terminal to the current collector and/or attaching a second electrical terminal to the anode.
  • the process may additionally comprise forming the cell assembly, and may comprise forming the cell assembly on either the first or the second housing portion.
  • the process of forming the cell assembly may comprise the steps of: - optionally, applying an adhesive to the first housing portion; applying the current collector to the first housing portion, or, if present, to the adhesive; applying a first electrical terminal to the first housing portion, or if present, to the adhesive, such that the first electrical terminal is in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a second electrical terminal to the first housing portion, or if present, to the adhesive, such that the second electrical terminal is not in electrical contact with the current collector; applying the separator to the current collector; - applying the anode to the separator such that the anode is not in electrical contact with the current collector and either is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal or is capable of being brought into contact therewith by application of pressure; and optionally applying a second adhesive to the cell assembly.
  • the first and second adhesives may be the same or they may be different.
  • the step of applying the anode may be such that it is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal.
  • the anode may be brought in contact with the second electrical terminal after forming the cell assembly, for example during the step of joining the first and second housing portions (said step of joining optionally comprising applying pressure and/or heat).
  • the anode should be applied to the separator such that it is not capable of being brought into electrical contact with the current collector under the conditions of pressure and temperature used in joining the first and second housing portions.
  • a process for making a laminated battery structure comprising: applying a current collector to a first housing layer; applying a first electrical terminal to the first housing layer such that the first electrical terminal is in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a second electrical terminal to the first housing layer such that the second electrical terminal is not in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a separator to the current collector; applying an anode to the separator such that the anode is not in electrical contact with the current collector and either is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal or is capable of being brought into contact therewith by application of pressure; applying a second housing portion to the anode; applying pressure and/or heat to the first and second housing portions so as to join the first and second housing portions, thereby at least partially encapsulating the current collector and anode and the separator; and forming an access port in at least one of the first and second housing portions for allowing access of an activating substance to the separator; wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said
  • a process for making a laminated battery structure comprising: - applying a first adhesive to a first housing layer; applying a current collector to the first adhesive; applying a first electrical terminal to the first adhesive such that the first electrical terminal is in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a second electrical terminal to the first adhesive such that the second electrical terminal is not in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a separator to the current collector; applying an anode to the separator such that the anode is not in electrical contact with the current collector and either is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal or is capable of being brought into contact therewith by application of pressure; applying a second adhesive to the anode; applying a second housing layer to the second adhesive; - applying pressure and/or heat to the first and second housing layers so as to join the first and second housing layers, thereby at least partially encapsulating the current collector and anode and the separator; and forming an access port and a gas port in at least one of the first and second housing layers, for allowing access of an activ
  • the step of providing laminating battery structure may comprise making the laminated battery structure according to the process of the second aspect of the invention.
  • the step of applying the activating substance to the catalyst may comprise applying the activating substance to the separator, if present.
  • the step of applying the activating substance to the catalyst may comprise applying a solution of the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator. It may comprise passing the activating substance, or a solution thereof, through the access port. It may comprise applying the activating substance, or a solution thereof, to an outer portion of the access port, or to the first or second housing layer in the vicinity of the outer portion of the access port, thereby allowing the activating substance, or solution thereof, to pass through the access port to the separator.
  • a method for operating a laminated battery structure comprising: forming an electrical connection between the current collector and the anode, said connection being external to the laminated battery structure; and applying the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator (if present).
  • the step of forming an electrical connection may comprise forming an electrical connection between a first and a second electrical terminal, said first and second electrical terminals being in electrical contact with the current collector and anode respectively.
  • the electrical connection may comprise an electrical load, such as an electrical device, for example a resistive device.
  • the step of forming an electrical connection may comprise electrically connecting a resistive load, such as a resistive device to the first and second terminals.
  • the electrical device may be operable by means of electrical power from the battery structure, and may comprise for example a motor, a meter, a sensor or some other form of electrical device.
  • the step of applying the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator may comprise applying the activating to the access port or passing the activating substance through the access port. This may be facilitated by egress of gas, for example air, from the gas port, if present.
  • the activating substance may be applied in solution, and the solution may be an aqueous solution.
  • the solution may be an electrolyte solution.
  • an electrical circuit comprising a laminated battery structure according to the present invention, the electrodes of said laminated battery structure being electrically connected to a load, for example an electrical device which is operable by means of electrical power from the laminated battery structure.
  • the device may be for example a resistive electrical device.
  • a process for making an electrical circuit comprising electrically connecting the electrodes of a laminated battery structure according to the invention to an electrical device.
  • the connecting may comprise forming an electrical connection between the device and the current collector of the battery and forming a separate electrical connection between the device and the anode of the battery structure.
  • the step of forming an electrical connection to an electrode may comprise forming an electrical connection with an electrical terminal which is in electrical connection with the electrode.
  • an electrical circuit when made by the process of the seventh aspect of the invention.
  • a process for operating an electrical circuit according to the invention comprising applying the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator (if present) of the laminated battery structure, thereby generating a potential difference between the electrodes of the laminated battery structure.
  • the process may comprise withdrawing electrical energy from the laminated battery structure.
  • the process may be used for operating an electrical device, for example a motor, a meter, a sensor or some other form of electrical device, said electrical device being a component of the electrical circuit.
  • the electrical energy withdrawn from the laminated battery structure may be used for operating the electrical device.
  • the electrical device should be operable by means of electrical power from the laminated battery structure.
  • Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a fabrication process for the laminated battery structure according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the working principle of a glucose-activated laminated battery structure according to the present invention: (a) before activation, and (b) after activation;
  • Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the workings of the glucose-activated battery structure of Fig. 2, showing the chemical reactions occurring in the battery structure in operation;
  • Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a glucose-activated laminated battery structure according to the present invention
  • Figure 5 shows optical images of a prototype battery structure according to the invention
  • Figure 6 shows a photograph of a laminated battery structure according to the present invention, together with an SEM micrograph of the cross-section of the laminated battery structure;
  • Figure 7 shows graphs of measured output of (a) a single and (b) a double battery structure with load resistance of lk ⁇ and lOk ⁇ after introduction of a 0.5M glucose solution; and
  • Figure 8 shows a graph of measured output of a single battery structure according to the present invention with different glucose oxidase concentrations used, with load resistance of lk ⁇ and lOk ⁇ after introduction of a 0.5M glucose solution.
  • a laminated battery structure comprises a housing comprising an interior region.
  • the housing may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween.
  • the first and second housing portions may comprise the same material or may comprise different materials. They may, independently, comprise any suitable material, for example plastic, that is capable of being laminated under conditions that do not adversely affect the cell assembly.
  • the housing portions may be laminated together by means of heat and/or pressure, or may be laminated by joining using an adhesive or glue. They may be laminated by a process comprising passing the first and second housing portions between two rollers, for example heated rollers, which are capable of applying pressure to the portions.
  • the housing portions may for example comprise a plastic, for example a thermoplastic.
  • the housing, or the first and second housing portions may, independently, be between about 10 and 1000 microns thick, and may be between about 10 and 500, 10 and 200, 10 and 100, 10 and 50, 100 and 1000, 500 and 1000, 100 and 500, 100 and 300, 150 and 300, 150 and 250 or 250 and 750 microns thick, and may, independently, be about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 50, 800, 850, 900, 950 or 1000 microns thick.
  • the laminated battery structure comprises a cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode physically separated from one another.
  • a separator may be interposed between them, or there may be a cavity between them. If no separator is interposed, the catalyst may be located (e.g. adsorbed or immobilized) on the current collector, or on a support or on some other surface of or within the interior region.
  • the separator may be located between the current collector and the anode. It may be in physical, electrical and/or ionic contact with the current collector and the anode.
  • the oxidant produced by reaction of the activating substance catalysed by the catalyst may, together with the anode, form a redox couple capable of producing a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
  • the current collector and the anode may, independently, be between about 100 and 500 microns thick, or between about 100 and 250,100 and 150, 150 and 250 250 and 500, 200 and 500 or 200 and 300 microns, and may be about 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 30, 400, 450 or 500 microns thick, or may be less than 100 microns, e.g. 50 or 75 microns, or greater than 500 microns, e.g. 600, 700 or 800 microns thick. They may independently be in the form of one or more sheets, leaves, wires, plates, blocks, tubes, flattened tubes or may be in some other form.
  • the current collector material and the anode material may be dissimilar, and may have different redox potentials.
  • the difference in redox potential may be greater than about 0.2V, and may be greater than about 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2.5 or 3 V, and may be between about 0.2 and 10V, or between about 0.2 and 5, 0.2 and 2, 0.2 and 1, 0.5 and 10, 1 and 10, 5 and 10, 0.5 and 5, 1 and 5 or 1 and 3V, and may be about 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10V.
  • the current collector material and the anode material may be electrically conductive, and may, independently be a metal or a non-metal.
  • Suitable materials that may be used as the current collector material include copper, magnesium, silver, gold carbon, conductive polymer (e.g. doped polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene) or other conductive material.
  • Suitable materials that may be used for the anode material include highly oxidative materials such as magnesium, zinc and aluminum. At least one of the electrodes may be at least partially consumed, or eroded, during operation of the battery structure following application of the activating substance to the separator.
  • the separator may be in physical contact with both the current collector and anode. It may be located between the current collector and anode, and may separate the current collector and anode.
  • the separator of the present invention comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material.
  • the catalyst may be a biocatalyst such as an enzyme, and may be for example glucose oxidase (GOD).
  • the catalyst should be capable of producing an oxidant when activated by the activating substance, and the oxidant may be a peroxide, for example hydrogen peroxide.
  • the oxidant may be capable of oxidizing at least one of the current collector material and the anode material. If the catalyst is GOD, the activating substance may be glucose.
  • the catalyst may also be capable of producing an electrolyte in addition to the oxidant.
  • the electrolyte may be gluconic acid, or gluconate (i.e. a gluconate salt).
  • the laminated battery structure of the present invention is intended to have very limited void space therein. Consequently it is convenient to have very little or no void space between the components of the battery structure, apart from the access port and gas port (if present).
  • excess oxidant may be produced by the catalyst. This may be consumed by a secondary reductant.
  • a secondary reductant such as catalase into water and oxygen.
  • the catalase required for this reaction may be present as an impurity in the GOD or may be added into the support.
  • the activating substance is converted to the oxidant by the catalyst.
  • the oxidant may be considered to be an electron acceptor, i.e. a cathode.
  • Electrons for reduction of the oxidant are supplied from the current collector, which may alternatively be considered to be a cathode as it accepts electrons from the anode via an electrical load.
  • the combination of oxidant and current collector may be seen as accepting electrons via the electrical load from the anode when the battery is in use, and thus that combination may be considered to be a cathode.
  • the support material may be porous, microporous, sorbent, adsorbent or absorbent. It may be permeable or semipermeable. It may be in the form of a sheet, a film, a membrane or a layer or some other form. It may comprise for example a paper material, a woven material or a microporous polymer or some other type of support material capable of having the catalyst associated therewith. It may be a flexible material, and the laminated battery structure or a portion thereof may be flexible.
  • the support material may be between about 100 microns and 2mm thick, or between about 100 microns and 1mm, 100 and 500 microns, 500 microns and 2mm, 1 and 2mm, 400 and 800 microns, 300 and 700 microns, 300 and 500 microns, 500 and 800 microns, 500 and 900 microns or 500 microns and lmm thick, and may be about 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900 or 950 microns, or about 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 or 2 mm thick.
  • the catalyst may be located and/or immobilized in and/or on the support material.
  • the support material may have holes or pores therein, and the mean diameter of the holes or pores may be between about 10 nm and 50 microns, or between about 10 nm and 10 microns, lOnm and 1 micron, 10 and 500nm, 10 and lOOnm, 1 and 50 microns, 10 and 50 microns, 1 and 10 microns, lOOnm and 1 micron, lOOnm and 15 microns or lOOnm and 10 microns, and may be about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 or 900nm, or about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 microns, or may be greater than 50 microns, for example 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150 or 200 microns.
  • the support material may be such that the activating substance is capable of accessing the catalyst.
  • the activating substance is a hydrophilic material, and may be in a polar solution, for example an aqueous solution. Consequently in such cases the support material should be hydrophilic. It may for example comprise a woven or pressed fibre, for example a natural fibre. It may comprise paper, cotton or wool or some other fibrous material. It may comprise a hydrophilic polymer, for example cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl acetate or some other polymer.
  • the support may permit fluid contact between the current collector and anode, and may be such that, on addition of the activating substance to the separator, the current collector and anode are in fluid contact.
  • the separator may comprise a low fluidic resistance material for easy introduction of the substrate, or a solution thereof.
  • the separator may comprise a high absorbance fibre paper, and may be capable of having more of the catalyst (e.g. GOD) associated therewith than normal filter paper (e.g. Whatman Grade 40).
  • separator between the anode and the current collector, there may be no separator, and the anode and current collector may be separated by a cavity between them.
  • enzyme or catalyst may be immobilized on the current collector or a surface of or within the cavity, e.g. on an inner wall of the housing, or of one or both of the housing portions.
  • the catalyst may be associated with the support material.
  • the catalyst may be adsorbed onto the support material, absorbed into the support material, sorbed onto the support material, bound to the support material or associated in some other way with the support material. If the catalyst is bound onto the support material, it may be bound by one or more covalent or ionic bonds, or may be bound by metal complexation or by some other means.
  • the laminated battery structure may comprise an access port for allowing the activating substance to access the separator, and thereby access the catalyst.
  • the access port may be in the form of a hole, a slot, a slit, a cavity, a duct or an aperture, which penetrates through at least one of the housing portions to the support material.
  • the access port may be between about 10 microns and 10mm in diameter or width, and may be between about 100 microns and 10mm, 1 and 10mm, 5 and 10mm, 3 and 5mm, 5 and 10mm, 10 microns and lmm, 10 and 100 microns, 100 microns and 2mm, 1 and 2mm, 2 and 5mm or 2 and 4mm, and may be about 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 or 750 microns or 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10mm in diameter or width.
  • the walls of the port may be hydrophilic, in order to facilitate access of a polar, e.g.
  • the battery structure may also have a gas port for permitting egress of air or other gas from the interior region. The egress may facilitate ingress of the activating substance through the access port.
  • the gas port may be between about 10 microns and 10mm in diameter or width, and may be between about 100 microns and 10mm, 1 and 10mm, 5 and 10mm, 3 and 5mm, 5 and 10mm, 10 microns and lmm, 10 and 100 microns, 100 microns and 2mm, 1 and 2mm, 2 and 5mm or 2 and 4mm, and may be about 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 or 750 microns or 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10mm in diameter or width.
  • the battery structure of the present invention may in some embodiments comprise a breakable chamber containing the activating substance, such that, when the chamber is broken, the activating substance contacts the catalyst, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
  • the breakable chamber may be disposed such that, once broken, the chamber communicates with (i.e. is capable of being in fluid communication with) the oxidant, or with the separator, if present.
  • the chamber may be a reservoir, or a bladder, or a compartment.
  • the chamber may be breakable by, for example, exerting pressure on the battery structure, or on a portion thereof.
  • the breakable chamber may comprise a weakened portion (e.g.
  • the battery structure comprises a breakable chamber as described above, the battery structure may or may not comprise an access port.
  • the battery structure may be between about 1 and 20cm in length, and may be between about 1 and 15, 1 and 10, 1 and 5, 5 and 20, 10 and 20 or 5 and 10cm in length, and maybe about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 01, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20cm in length. It may be between about 0.5 and 10cm in width, and may be between about 1 and 7, 1 and 5, 1 and 3, 3 and 10, 5 and 10, 2 and 8 or 3 and 7cm in width, and may be about 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10cm in width.
  • the battery structure may be square, rectangular, quadrilateral, round, oval, triangular, pentagonal, elongated or irregular shaped or some other shape. It may have an approximately flat cross-section.
  • the battery structure may be between about 250 microns and 3mm thick, or between about 250 microns and 2mm, 250 microns and lmm, 250 and 500 microns, 1 and 3mm, 1 and 2mm, 2 and 3mm or 500 microns and 2mm, and may be about 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800 or 90 microns, or about 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 or 3mm thick.
  • the battery structure, or a portion thereof, may be flexible.
  • the process for fabricating the battery comprises locating the cell assembly between the first and second housing portions.
  • the process may comprise joining or securing the housing portions together, thereby securing the cell assembly between them.
  • the joining or securing may comprise gluing or laminating or some other method.
  • Laminating may comprise applying heat and/or pressure to the housing portions having the cell assembly between them. It may for example comprise passing the housing portions between a pair of rollers, or a plurality of pairs of rollers, capable of applying pressure to the housing portions.
  • the rollers, or at least one of the rollers may be heated. They (or it) may be heated to a temperature sufficient to laminate the housing portions, but not sufficient to cause the cell assembly to deteriorate in the time required for laminating.
  • the temperature may be between about 50 and 200 0 C, and may be between about 50 and 100, 100 and 150, 150 and 200, 50 and 150 or 100 and 200 0 C, and may be about 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 or 200 0 C, or may be greater than 200 0 C.
  • the pressure may be between about 2 and 20 atmospheres, or between about 5 and 20, 10 and 20, 2 and 10, 5 and 10 or 5 and 15 atmospheres, and may be about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 atmospheres.
  • the housing portions may be exposed to these conditions for a suitable time.
  • This may be between about 0.1 and 20 seconds, or between about 0.1 and 10, 0.1 and 5, 0.1 and 2, 0.1 and 1, 0.1 and 0.5, 1 and 10, 1 and 20, 10 and 20, 5 and 10, 0.5 and 5 or 0.1 and 1 second, and may be about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 seconds or some other suitable time that does not cause degradation of the catalyst.
  • the housing portions may be passed through 5 the rollers at any convenient speed suitable for laminating the housing portions, for example between about 1 and lOOmm/s, or between about 1 and 50, 1 and 10, 1 and 5, 10 and 100, 50 and 100, 5 and 50, 10 and 50, 10 and 20 or 5 and 20mm/s, and may be at about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100mm/s.
  • the process of laminating may be sufficient to bring the anode and the second electrical o terminal into electrical and/or physical contact.
  • the process may comprise locating a preformed cell assembly between the first and second housing portions, or it may comprise forming the cell assembly on one of the housing portions, and then locating the other housing portion such that the cell assembly is located between the two housing portions. Alternatively it may comprise forming a first s part of the cell assembly on the first housing portion and forming a second part of the cell assembly on the second housing portion, and then joining the first and second housing portions so that the first and second parts of the cell assembly combine to form the cell assembly.
  • the process of securing the cell assembly between the housing portions may compress the cell assembly, thereby changing the physical relationship between 0 components thereof (for example bringing the anode and second electrical terminal in electrical contact).
  • the process of locating the cell assembly between the first and second housing portions may be such that an aperture in at least one of the first and second housing portions is located so as to be capable of being used as an access port for allowing access s of an activating substance to the catalyst of the cell assembly.
  • the step of forming the aperture may be conducted during or after locating the cell assembly between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, said forming being such that the aperture is located so as to be capable of being used as an access port for allowing access of the activating substance to the catalyst.
  • Electrical terminals may be connected to the current collector and the anode so as to function as electrical terminals for the battery structure. Alternatively, the current collector and anode themselves may extend sufficiently to be capable of functioning as electrical terminals for the battery structure.
  • the electrical terminals, if present may be connected to the electrodes by any commonly known method, including soldering, welding, fusing, gluing using an electrically conductive glue, physically interlocking, clamping, clipping or some other suitable method.
  • the activating substance In order to operate the battery structure, the activating substance, optionally in solution, is applied to the battery structure in such a manner that it can pass through the access port to contact the oxidant, and/or, if present, the separator.
  • the activating material may be in liquid form, and may be in solution, for example polar, e.g. aqueous, solution.
  • the activating substance may be dissolved in an electrolyte, and may be provided in an electrolyte solution.
  • the activating substance may comprise a solution of a substrate for the catalyst and an electrolyte. A reaction between the catalyst and the activating substance produces an oxidant, thereby leading to a potential difference (voltage) between the current collector and anode.
  • the battery structure may therefore be used in an electrical circuit, to drive a device, for example a meter, a micromotor, an LED or some other device.
  • a device for example a meter, a micromotor, an LED or some other device.
  • the battery structure comprises a breakable chamber containing the activating substance
  • the battery may be operated by breaking the breakable chamber, thereby causing the activating substance to contact the catalyst, and generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode
  • the battery of the present invention may be capable of delivering a voltage of between about 0.5 and 10 V 5 or between about 0.5 and 5V. or between about 0.5 and 2, 0.5 and 1, 1 and 5, 2 and 5, 0.8 and 1.5 or 0.8 and IV, and may be capable of delivering a voltage of about 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10V.
  • It may be capable of delivering between about 0.01 and 1OmW, or between about 0.05 and 10, 0.1 and 10, 0.5 and 10, 1 and 10, 5 and 10, 0.01 and 5, 0.01 and 1, 0.01 and 0.1, 0.05 and 1, 0.1 and 1, 0.1 and 0.8 or 0.1 and 0.5mW, and may be capable of delivering about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 1OmW.
  • the battery structure may be capable of producing the above voltage and power for at least about 10 minutes, or at least about 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 or 200 minutes, or between about 10 and 200 minutes, or between about 10 and 150, 10 and 120, 10 and 90, 30 and 200, 60 and 200, 90 and 200, 120 and 200, 30 and 120 or 60 and 120 minutes, and may be capable of producing the above voltage for about 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180 or 200 minutes.
  • the concentration of the activating substance in the solution may be between about 0.001 and 3M, or between about 0.001 and 1, 0.001 and 0.01, 0.001 and 1, 0.005 and 1, 0.05 and 1, 0.1 and 1, 0.1 and 0.5, 0.1 and 0.2, 0.5 and 3, 1 and 3, 0.5 and 2 or 0.5 and IM, and may be about 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 09.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 or 3M.
  • the concentration of the catalyst may be between about 10 "7 and 10 “2 M, or between about 10 "7 and 10 “3 , 10 “7 and 10 “5 , 10 “6 and 10 “2 , 10 “5 and 10 '2 , 10 “3 and 10 “2 , 10 “6 and 10 '3 , 10 “6 and 10 “4 or 10 ⁇ 5 and 10 “3 M, and may be about 10 '7 , 5*10 "7 , 10 “6 , 5*10 “6 , 10 “5 , 5*10 “5 , 10 “4 , 5*10 ⁇ , 10 "3 , 5*10 “3 or 10 "2 M.
  • the support material may be immersed in a solution of the catalyst, and then removed therefrom (and optionally dried).
  • concentration of the catalyst referred to above is the concentration in the solution of the catalyst.
  • the voltage and power may be stable over the above time. In this context the voltage and power are considered stable if they do not vary from the original value by more than about 40%, or about 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 or 10%.
  • the present invention relates, in a particular embodiment, to fabricating a glucose- activated paper battery based on glucose-oxidase enzyme using a simple and cheap plastic laminating technology.
  • the battery may be constructed by passing a stack consisted of magnesium, enzyme-doped paper and copper sandwiched between two plastic films into a roller which bound the whole assembly together using a simple lamination process.
  • a single battery may be capable of delivering a stable voltage and power output of 0.8 - IV and 0.1 - 0.8mW respectively. It may also possible to further improve the enzyme and glucose concentrations as well as the design of the battery in order to improve the power output.
  • the novel idea of making glucose-activated battery by plastic lamination technology has the potential to offer cheap alternative power for many energy-powered medical devices, such as an integrated disposable bio-systems providing onboard power source for the sensing unit and detection of the analytes of interest.
  • the driving force for the battery structure is the redox reaction of an activating substance, for example a bio-fluid such as glucose, using a catalyst, for example an enzyme such as glucose oxidase.
  • an activating substance for example a bio-fluid such as glucose
  • a catalyst for example an enzyme such as glucose oxidase.
  • the battery structure of the present invention may be able, for example, to provide onboard electrical power to drive the sensing unit in disposable integrated bio-systems.
  • the sensing unit may be made up of an energy- consuming part such as the biosensor or DNA detector. Once the battery structure is activated, it may yield adequate electrical energy to probe the sensing event and detect an analyte of interest.
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagram illustrating a fabrication process for a paper battery structure 10 according to the present invention.
  • illustration a shows a copper layer 12 adhered to lower transparent laminating plastic 14 by transparent adhesive 16.
  • Illustration b shows the structure of illustration a with the addition of an aluminium layer patterned as electrical terminals 18 (negative) and 20 (positive).
  • Illustration c shows the structure of illustration c with the addition of special paper 22 doped with GOD on top of the copper layer to function as a separator.
  • Illustration d shows the structure of illustration c with the addition of a magnesium layer patterned as electrode 24.
  • Illustration e shows the structure of illustration d with the addition of upper laminating plastic layer 26, adhered to electrode 24 with adhesive 28, and passing through rollers 30 in order to laminate the structure.
  • Illustration f shows the structure of illustration e having been laminated, and having slits 32 and 34 for air exhalation and for addition of glucose respectively.
  • assembly 10 comprising magnesium (the current collector), enzyme-doped paper and copper (the anode) is sandwiched between two plastic films and passed into a roller which binds the whole assembly together.
  • a O.lOmm-thick lower transparent plastic film with an adhesive (Figure Ia) was used as a substrate to fabricate the battery structure.
  • a 0.2mm-thick copper layer was deposited (or taped) and patterned to form the positive electrode ( Figure Ia). After attaching a 0.2mm-thick aluminum layer (Figure Ib), the aluminum layer was patterned to provide electrical connection and terminals.
  • 0.2mm-thick glucose oxidase enzyme doped paper and a magnesium layer were stacked on the copper layer.
  • special paper 22 doped with GOD In order to prepare special paper 22 doped with GOD, a solution of known enzyme concentration concentration (e.g. 0.01 mol/L) in phosphate buffer solution or in deionised water was prepared. Dried special paper was weighed, and then immersed in the GOD solution for 5 hours. Then the paper was dried and reweighed. The concentration of the "immohilized" GOD in the special paper was then calculated.
  • FIG. 2 describes the operating principle of a glucose-activated battery structure according to this example.
  • illustration a shows the structure before addition of glucose
  • illustration b shows the structure after addition of glucose.
  • magnesium electrode 52 and copper electrode 54 are separated by separator
  • glucose-oxidase catalyses the oxidation of glucose to gluconolactone and hydrogen peroxide.
  • electrons generated from the oxidation of magnesium anode are consumed by the hydrogen peroxide, resulting in an overall reaction producing electrical power and water.
  • the chemistry is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3.
  • the mechanism comprises two reactions occurring in the glucose oxidase doped paper that is located between the magnesium anode and current collector: (1) glucose oxidation using oxygen and glucose oxidase (GOD) to supply hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and gluconic acid as an electrolyte; (2) anodic reaction on the magnesium surface and cathodic reaction of hydrogen peroxide on the surface of current collector (copper in this example), hi order to prepare the GOD doped paper, filter paper is soaked in a GOD solution and located between the magnesium and the current collector. Reactions Glucose oxidation:
  • Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a glucose-activated laminated battery consisting of a glucose-oxidase coated paper sandwiched between magnesium and copper layers. In Fig. 4, the components are as described for Fig. 1.
  • Figure 5 shows an optical photograph of the prototype battery.
  • the dimensions of the battery are 7cm x 2cm and of the enzyme-coated paper are 5cm x 2cm.
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy Figure 6 shows SEM micrograph of the cross-section of the laminated battery, clearly indicating the different layers in the battery: upper and lower plastic films, magnesium, glucose-oxidase doped paper and copper. Performance Evaluation
  • the "bio-battery” is able to deliver stable voltage (1-2V) and power (0.1- 3.OmW) for a period of 90 mins upon addition of a single drop of glucose.

Abstract

A laminated battery structure which comprises a plastic housing with an interior region and a cell region; where the cell assemvly is located in th einterior region. The cell assembly comprises a current collector (54) and an anode (52), said current collector (54) and anode (52) being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region on a separator (56) that comprises a support material, or the current collector. The catalyst is capable of catalysing a reaction of an activating substance (e.g. fuel such as glucose) to produce an oxidant and electrolyte. Reduction of the oxidant at the current collector (54) generates a potential difference. In a preferred embodiment the disposable micro-battery exploits the catalytic conversion of an enzyme such as glucose oxidase on an activator such as glucose.

Description

Laminated Battery
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a laminated battery and a process for making it.
Background of the Invention A battery combined with plastic is required for compatibility with conventional plastic technologies such as plastic molding or hot embossing. Disposable on-demand, acid- and water-activated micro-batteries using chemical reactions in a cavity have been demonstrated for bioMEMS and micro-devices, however a disadvantage with these micro-batteries is that the fabrication processes used to make them commonly use silicon substrates, which hinders compatibility with plastic processes for such micro-devices.
There is therefore a need for a laminated battery that can be fabricated using plastic laminating technology or plastic molding technology.
Object of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. It is another object to at least partially satisfy the above need.
Summary of the Invention
In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a laminated battery structure comprising: - a housing comprising an interior region, and
- a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, wherein the catalyst is capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
The housing may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining the interior region therebetween. The battery structure may have a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode. The separator may comprise a support material and the catalyst may be associated with, or immobilized in and/or on, said support material. Alternatively, if there is no separator, the catalyst may be located (e.g. associated, adsorbed or immobilized) on the current collector, or on a support structure or on some other surface (such as the inner surface of the first and/or second housing portion) of or within the interior region.
In use, application of the activating substance to the catalyst (i.e. to the separator, if present) gives rise to a catalysed reaction of the activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte. Reduction of the oxidant at the current collector promotes generation of a potential difference between the current collector and the anode, which is oxidized to release electrons for reduction of the oxidant. The electrolyte may promote or facilitate ionic conduction within the inner region. The anode may be a sacrificial electrode, i.e. it may be consumed during operation of the battery structure. The cell assembly may be a laminated cell assembly. It may be an electrochemical cell assembly.
The housing may comprise an access port for allowing access of the activating substance to the catalyst. The access port may communicate with the separator, if present, or with a space abutting the separator or with a cavity or region in which the catalyst is immobilised, through the housing, for example through either the first housing portion or the second housing portion. The access port may be such that, on application of the activating substance to an outer portion of the access port, the activating substance is capable of passing through the access port to the catalyst. It may provide fluid communication between the outer portion of the access port and the catalyst, or between an outer surface of the housing and the catalyst. The access port may be in the form of a hole, a passageway, a channel, a vent, a tube or an aperture through the housing and communicating between the outside of the housing and the interior region.
The first and second housing portions may each be flat or planar. They may each be in the form of a sheet. They may be laminated together. They may be integral with each other. They may be joined so as to define the interior region therebetween. They may comprise a plastic material and may comprise a laminatable material. The housing, or one or both of the first and second housing portions, may be joined to at least a portion of the cell assembly by an adhesive or some other means.
The current collector and anode may, independently, be in the form of a sheet, a wire or some other form. The current collector and anode may comprise current collector and anode materials respectively. The anode material may be oxidisable by the oxidant. The current collector and anode materials may be dissimilar, and may have different redox potentials. The current collector may be an electrode, and may be a cathode. The anode may be located in an anode compartment and the current collector may be located in a current collector compartment, for example a cathode compartment. The separator, if present, may separate the anode compartment from the current collector compartment.
The catalyst may comprise a biological catalyst. It may comprise an enzyme, for example glucose oxidase (GOD). The catalyst may be supported on, adsorbed on, absorbed into, sorbed on or otherwise associated with, a support material, or it may be located (e.g. associated, adsorbed or immobilized) on the current collector, or on a support structure or on some other surface (such as the inner surface of the first and/or second housing portion) of or within the interior region.
The oxidant may be, for example, hydrogen peroxide. If the catalyst is an enzyme, the activating substance may be a substrate for the enzyme, i.e. an enzyme substrate. For example if the catalyst is GOD, then the activating substance may be glucose, and the GOD may be capable of converting the glucose to gluconolactone, thereby producing hydrogen peroxide and gluconate ions. Thus the laminated battery structure may have glucose in the interior region, whereby, in use, the glucose reacts with the catalyst to form gluconic acid (or gluconate), said gluconic acid (or gluconate) being capable of functioning as an electrolyte.
The separator may be in physical contact with the current collector and/or the anode. The separator may be an ionically conducting separator. It may be a fluidically conducting separator. The ionically conducting separator may be capable of permitting ionic communication between the current collector and the anode following application of the activating substance thereto. It may be capable of absorbing, adsorbing or sorbing the activating substance so as to permit contact between the catalyst and the activating substance. The support material may be porous, microporous, sorbent, adsorbent, absorbent, particulate, microparticulate or in some other form capable of having the catalyst associated therewith, and of permitting ionic communication between the current collector and the anode following application of the activating substance thereto. It may comprise for example a paper material, a pulp, a woven material, a microporous polymer, a membrane, a semipermeable membrane, a permeable membrane or a powder. The current collector and anode may be physically separated from each other by the separator, or by a spacer. hi addition to the access port, the housing may have a gas port, for permitting egress of a gas, for example air, from the interior region of the battery structure. The gas port may be in the form of a hole, a passageway, a channel, a vent, a tube or an aperture through the housing and communicating between the outside of the housing and the interior region, for venting a gas from the interior region. It may be disposed at or near the other end of the battery structure from the access port.
The access port, and/or the gas port if present, may allow access of a reactive gas, for example oxygen, to the interior region. The reactive gas may be used by the catalyst to produce the oxidant. Alternatively the reactive gas may be dissolved in or associated with the substrate when it enters the interior region.
The current collector and the anode may be electrically connected to, or integral with, a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal respectively. The first and second electrical terminals may, independently, comprise the current collector material or the anode material, or one or more other electrically conductive materials. A suitable material for the first and second terminals may be aluminium.
In an embodiment, there is provide a battery comprising, in combination:
- a housing;
- an anode located within the housing, said anode being capable of supplying electrons for reduction of an oxidant;
- a current collector located within the housing capable of transmitting electrons from the anode for reduction of the oxidant, said current collector being not in physical contact with the anode;
- a cavity between the anode and the current collector; - an enzyme or catalyst immobilized on the current collector and/or in said cavity, said enzyme or catalyst being capable of oxidising a fuel or substrate to generate an electrolyte and the oxidant;
- means to couple at least one of the anode and the current collector to the housing and means to maintain the cavity between said anode and current collector; wherein, in use, the fuel or substrate is introduced into the cavity and contacts the enzyme or catalyst, thereby oxidising the fuel or substrate to generate the electrolyte and the oxidant, the anode being thereby oxidized by the oxidant to provide electrons and said oxidant being reduced as electrons are collected by said current collector, thereby supplying electrical energy to an electrical load. The anode and the current collector may define the cavity therebetween. The means to couple may be for example an adhesive, or a glue or some other means to couple or to fasten or to adhere. The means to maintain the cavity may comprise a spacer, or may comprise the housing itself, which may be sufficiently rigid to maintain the cavity. It may comprise the separator, if present, or the support material, if present.
A porous material, for example paper or pulp, may be present in the cavity for immobilization of the enzyme. The fuel or substrate may comprise glucose. The enzyme or catalyst may comprise glucose oxidase (GOD). The electrolyte may comprise gluconic acid or gluconate. The oxidant may comprise hydrogen peroxide. hi another embodiment there is provided a laminated battery structure comprising:
- a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween, and - a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, wherein the catalyst is capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
In another embodiment there is provided a laminated battery structure comprising:
- a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween, and - a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode, wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
In another embodiment there is provided a laminated battery structure comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material joined so as to define an interior region therebetween, and
- a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being separated from one another by a separator, wherein the separator comprises a support material and an enzyme adsorbed on said support material, said enzyme being capable of catalyzing reaction of an enzyme substrate to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode, and wherein the housing comprises an access port which communicates with the outside of the housing and with the interior region to allow access of the enzyme substrate to the enzyme and a gas port which communicates with the outside of the housing and with the interior region to vent a gas, for example air, from the interior region of the battery structure. The gas port may be at the other end of the battery structure from the access port. In another embodiment there is provided a laminated battery structure comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material defining an interior region therebetween, and
- a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a magnesium anode and a copper current collector, said anode and current collector being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the anode and the current collector, wherein the separator comprises a support material and glucose oxidase enzyme associated with said support material, and wherein the housing comprises an access port for allowing access of a glucose solution to the glucose oxidase enzyme, whereby, in use, the glucose oxidase enzyme oxidizes the glucose, thereby generating a potential difference between the anode and the current collector.
In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a laminated battery comprising:
- a housing comprising an interior region therebetween, - a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, and
- an ionically conducting fluid comprising an activating substance, said fluid being in contact with the catalyst, the current collector and the anode, wherein said catalyst catalyses reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode. The housing may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining the interior region therebetween. In an embodiment there is provided a laminated battery comprising:
- a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween,
- a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode, and
- an ionically conducting fluid comprising an activating substance, said fluid being in contact with the separator, the current collector and the anode, wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst catalyzing reaction of the activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode.
The current collector and/or the anode may be in contact with the separator. The laminated battery may comprise a laminated battery structure according to the first aspect of the invention, and an ionically conducting fluid comprising the activating substance, said fluid being in contact with the separator, the current collector and the anode. In another embodiment, the laminated battery comprises:
- a housing comprising a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material defining an interior region therebetween,
- a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a magnesium anode and a copper current collector, said anode and current collector being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the anode and the current collector, and - a glucose solution in contact with the separator, the magnesium anode and the copper current collector, wherein the separator comprises a support material and glucose oxidase enzyme associated with said support material, whereby the glucose oxidase enzyme catalyses oxidation of the glucose and produces gluconate and hydrogen peroxide, thereby generating a potential difference between the anode and the current collector.
In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a process for making a laminated battery structure, comprising:
- locating a cell assembly between a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said first and second housing portions defining an interior region therebetween, wherein the cell assembly comprises a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region; and
- joining the first and second housing portions having the cell assembly therebetween; said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
The cell assembly may have a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode. The separator may comprise a support material and the catalyst may be associated with said support material.
In an embodiment there is provide a process for making a laminated battery structure, comprising
- locating a cell assembly between a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein the cell assembly comprises a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode; and
- joining the first and second housing portions having the cell assembly therebetween; wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode.
The step of joining may comprise applying pressure and/or heat to the first and second housing portions, and may involve laminating the first and second housing portions having the cell assembly therebetween. The joining may comprise adhering the first housing portion to the second housing portion, for example by means of a glue, an adhesive or a gum.
The process may comprise forming an aperture in the housing. It may comprise forming an aperture in at least one of the first and second housing portions. The aperture being capable of being used as an access port for allowing access of the activating substance to the catalyst. The step of forming the aperture may be conducted before, during or after locating the cell assembly between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The process may also comprise forming a second aperture in at least one of the first and second housing portions, said second aperture being capable of being used as a gas port for allowing egress of a gas from an interior region of the battery structure. The step of forming the second aperture may be conducted before, during or after locating the cell assembly between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The process may also comprise attaching a first electrical terminal to the current collector and/or attaching a second electrical terminal to the anode.
The process may additionally comprise forming the cell assembly, and may comprise forming the cell assembly on either the first or the second housing portion. The process of forming the cell assembly may comprise the steps of: - optionally, applying an adhesive to the first housing portion; applying the current collector to the first housing portion, or, if present, to the adhesive; applying a first electrical terminal to the first housing portion, or if present, to the adhesive, such that the first electrical terminal is in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a second electrical terminal to the first housing portion, or if present, to the adhesive, such that the second electrical terminal is not in electrical contact with the current collector; applying the separator to the current collector; - applying the anode to the separator such that the anode is not in electrical contact with the current collector and either is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal or is capable of being brought into contact therewith by application of pressure; and optionally applying a second adhesive to the cell assembly. The first and second adhesives, if present, may be the same or they may be different. The step of applying the anode may be such that it is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal. Alternatively the anode may be brought in contact with the second electrical terminal after forming the cell assembly, for example during the step of joining the first and second housing portions (said step of joining optionally comprising applying pressure and/or heat). The anode should be applied to the separator such that it is not capable of being brought into electrical contact with the current collector under the conditions of pressure and temperature used in joining the first and second housing portions. In another embodiment there is provided a process for making a laminated battery structure, comprising: applying a current collector to a first housing layer; applying a first electrical terminal to the first housing layer such that the first electrical terminal is in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a second electrical terminal to the first housing layer such that the second electrical terminal is not in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a separator to the current collector; applying an anode to the separator such that the anode is not in electrical contact with the current collector and either is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal or is capable of being brought into contact therewith by application of pressure; applying a second housing portion to the anode; applying pressure and/or heat to the first and second housing portions so as to join the first and second housing portions, thereby at least partially encapsulating the current collector and anode and the separator; and forming an access port in at least one of the first and second housing portions for allowing access of an activating substance to the separator; wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode. hi another embodiment there is provided a process for making a laminated battery structure, comprising: - applying a first adhesive to a first housing layer; applying a current collector to the first adhesive; applying a first electrical terminal to the first adhesive such that the first electrical terminal is in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a second electrical terminal to the first adhesive such that the second electrical terminal is not in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a separator to the current collector; applying an anode to the separator such that the anode is not in electrical contact with the current collector and either is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal or is capable of being brought into contact therewith by application of pressure; applying a second adhesive to the anode; applying a second housing layer to the second adhesive; - applying pressure and/or heat to the first and second housing layers so as to join the first and second housing layers, thereby at least partially encapsulating the current collector and anode and the separator; and forming an access port and a gas port in at least one of the first and second housing layers, for allowing access of an activating substance to the separator and for allowing egress of a gas therefrom respectively; wherein the separator comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material, said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode. There is also provided a laminated battery structure when made by the process of the second aspect of the invention.
In a fourth aspect of the invention there is provide a process for making a laminated battery comprising:
- providing a laminated battery structure according to the first aspect of the invention, and
- applying the activating substance to the catalyst.
The step of providing laminating battery structure may comprise making the laminated battery structure according to the process of the second aspect of the invention. The step of applying the activating substance to the catalyst may comprise applying the activating substance to the separator, if present. The step of applying the activating substance to the catalyst may comprise applying a solution of the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator. It may comprise passing the activating substance, or a solution thereof, through the access port. It may comprise applying the activating substance, or a solution thereof, to an outer portion of the access port, or to the first or second housing layer in the vicinity of the outer portion of the access port, thereby allowing the activating substance, or solution thereof, to pass through the access port to the separator.
In a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for operating a laminated battery structure according to the invention comprising: forming an electrical connection between the current collector and the anode, said connection being external to the laminated battery structure; and applying the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator (if present). The step of forming an electrical connection may comprise forming an electrical connection between a first and a second electrical terminal, said first and second electrical terminals being in electrical contact with the current collector and anode respectively. The electrical connection may comprise an electrical load, such as an electrical device, for example a resistive device. Thus the step of forming an electrical connection may comprise electrically connecting a resistive load, such as a resistive device to the first and second terminals. The electrical device may be operable by means of electrical power from the battery structure, and may comprise for example a motor, a meter, a sensor or some other form of electrical device. The step of applying the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator may comprise applying the activating to the access port or passing the activating substance through the access port. This may be facilitated by egress of gas, for example air, from the gas port, if present. The activating substance may be applied in solution, and the solution may be an aqueous solution. The solution may be an electrolyte solution.
In a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical circuit comprising a laminated battery structure according to the present invention, the electrodes of said laminated battery structure being electrically connected to a load, for example an electrical device which is operable by means of electrical power from the laminated battery structure. The device may be for example a resistive electrical device.
In a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a process for making an electrical circuit comprising electrically connecting the electrodes of a laminated battery structure according to the invention to an electrical device. The connecting may comprise forming an electrical connection between the device and the current collector of the battery and forming a separate electrical connection between the device and the anode of the battery structure. The step of forming an electrical connection to an electrode may comprise forming an electrical connection with an electrical terminal which is in electrical connection with the electrode.
There is also provided an electrical circuit when made by the process of the seventh aspect of the invention. In an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a process for operating an electrical circuit according to the invention comprising applying the activating substance to the catalyst and/or to the separator (if present) of the laminated battery structure, thereby generating a potential difference between the electrodes of the laminated battery structure. The process may comprise withdrawing electrical energy from the laminated battery structure. The process may be used for operating an electrical device, for example a motor, a meter, a sensor or some other form of electrical device, said electrical device being a component of the electrical circuit. The electrical energy withdrawn from the laminated battery structure may be used for operating the electrical device. The electrical device should be operable by means of electrical power from the laminated battery structure.
Brief Description of the Drawings
A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a fabrication process for the laminated battery structure according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the working principle of a glucose-activated laminated battery structure according to the present invention: (a) before activation, and (b) after activation; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the workings of the glucose-activated battery structure of Fig. 2, showing the chemical reactions occurring in the battery structure in operation;
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a glucose-activated laminated battery structure according to the present invention; Figure 5 shows optical images of a prototype battery structure according to the invention;
Figure 6 shows a photograph of a laminated battery structure according to the present invention, together with an SEM micrograph of the cross-section of the laminated battery structure;
Figure 7 shows graphs of measured output of (a) a single and (b) a double battery structure with load resistance of lkΩ and lOkΩ after introduction of a 0.5M glucose solution; and Figure 8 shows a graph of measured output of a single battery structure according to the present invention with different glucose oxidase concentrations used, with load resistance of lkΩ and lOkΩ after introduction of a 0.5M glucose solution.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments A laminated battery structure according to the present invention comprises a housing comprising an interior region. The housing may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween. The first and second housing portions may comprise the same material or may comprise different materials. They may, independently, comprise any suitable material, for example plastic, that is capable of being laminated under conditions that do not adversely affect the cell assembly. The housing portions may be laminated together by means of heat and/or pressure, or may be laminated by joining using an adhesive or glue. They may be laminated by a process comprising passing the first and second housing portions between two rollers, for example heated rollers, which are capable of applying pressure to the portions. The housing portions may for example comprise a plastic, for example a thermoplastic. Suitable examples include polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC5 acrylic or a blend of any one of these with another polymer. The housing, or the first and second housing portions may, independently, be between about 10 and 1000 microns thick, and may be between about 10 and 500, 10 and 200, 10 and 100, 10 and 50, 100 and 1000, 500 and 1000, 100 and 500, 100 and 300, 150 and 300, 150 and 250 or 250 and 750 microns thick, and may, independently, be about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 50, 800, 850, 900, 950 or 1000 microns thick.
The laminated battery structure comprises a cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode physically separated from one another. A separator may be interposed between them, or there may be a cavity between them. If no separator is interposed, the catalyst may be located (e.g. adsorbed or immobilized) on the current collector, or on a support or on some other surface of or within the interior region. The separator may be located between the current collector and the anode. It may be in physical, electrical and/or ionic contact with the current collector and the anode. The oxidant produced by reaction of the activating substance catalysed by the catalyst may, together with the anode, form a redox couple capable of producing a potential difference between the current collector and the anode. The current collector and the anode may, independently, be between about 100 and 500 microns thick, or between about 100 and 250,100 and 150, 150 and 250 250 and 500, 200 and 500 or 200 and 300 microns, and may be about 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 30, 400, 450 or 500 microns thick, or may be less than 100 microns, e.g. 50 or 75 microns, or greater than 500 microns, e.g. 600, 700 or 800 microns thick. They may independently be in the form of one or more sheets, leaves, wires, plates, blocks, tubes, flattened tubes or may be in some other form. The current collector material and the anode material may be dissimilar, and may have different redox potentials. The difference in redox potential may be greater than about 0.2V, and may be greater than about 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2.5 or 3 V, and may be between about 0.2 and 10V, or between about 0.2 and 5, 0.2 and 2, 0.2 and 1, 0.5 and 10, 1 and 10, 5 and 10, 0.5 and 5, 1 and 5 or 1 and 3V, and may be about 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10V. The current collector material and the anode material may be electrically conductive, and may, independently be a metal or a non-metal. Suitable materials that may be used as the current collector material include copper, magnesium, silver, gold carbon, conductive polymer (e.g. doped polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene) or other conductive material. Suitable materials that may be used for the anode material include highly oxidative materials such as magnesium, zinc and aluminum. At least one of the electrodes may be at least partially consumed, or eroded, during operation of the battery structure following application of the activating substance to the separator. The reduction potentials of a suitable anode materials (E0 at 250C and 1 atm relative to the standard hydrogen electrode) is: Mg2+ + 2e ^=^ Mg -2.372V
This may be compared with the reduction potential for the hydrogen peroxide half equation:
H2O2 + 2H+ + 2e ==i^ 2H2O 1.776V
Thus using the above reduction potentials the theoretical voltage of such a battery is 4.1V (1.776+2.372).
Other suitable anode materials are zinc and aluminium, for which the reduction potentials are:
Zn2+ + 2e :==== Zn -0.7618V Al3+ + 3e ^^ Al -0.1.662V
The separator may be in physical contact with both the current collector and anode. It may be located between the current collector and anode, and may separate the current collector and anode. The separator of the present invention comprises a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material. The catalyst may be a biocatalyst such as an enzyme, and may be for example glucose oxidase (GOD). The catalyst should be capable of producing an oxidant when activated by the activating substance, and the oxidant may be a peroxide, for example hydrogen peroxide. The oxidant may be capable of oxidizing at least one of the current collector material and the anode material. If the catalyst is GOD, the activating substance may be glucose. The catalyst may also be capable of producing an electrolyte in addition to the oxidant. In the case where the catalyst is GOD and the activating substance is gluose, the electrolyte may be gluconic acid, or gluconate (i.e. a gluconate salt). The laminated battery structure of the present invention is intended to have very limited void space therein. Consequently it is convenient to have very little or no void space between the components of the battery structure, apart from the access port and gas port (if present).
In some circumstances excess oxidant may be produced by the catalyst. This may be consumed by a secondary reductant. For example if the enzyme is GOD, excess hydrogen peroxide may be generated. The unused hydrogen peroxide may be decomposed by a secondary reductant such as catalase into water and oxygen. The catalase required for this reaction may be present as an impurity in the GOD or may be added into the support. In operation, the activating substance is converted to the oxidant by the catalyst.
Reduction of the oxidant consumes electrons, thereby creating the potential difference required for operation of the battery. Thus the oxidant may be considered to be an electron acceptor, i.e. a cathode. Electrons for reduction of the oxidant are supplied from the current collector, which may alternatively be considered to be a cathode as it accepts electrons from the anode via an electrical load. As a further view, the combination of oxidant and current collector may be seen as accepting electrons via the electrical load from the anode when the battery is in use, and thus that combination may be considered to be a cathode.
The support material (and the separator) may be porous, microporous, sorbent, adsorbent or absorbent. It may be permeable or semipermeable. It may be in the form of a sheet, a film, a membrane or a layer or some other form. It may comprise for example a paper material, a woven material or a microporous polymer or some other type of support material capable of having the catalyst associated therewith. It may be a flexible material, and the laminated battery structure or a portion thereof may be flexible. The support material may be between about 100 microns and 2mm thick, or between about 100 microns and 1mm, 100 and 500 microns, 500 microns and 2mm, 1 and 2mm, 400 and 800 microns, 300 and 700 microns, 300 and 500 microns, 500 and 800 microns, 500 and 900 microns or 500 microns and lmm thick, and may be about 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900 or 950 microns, or about 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 or 2 mm thick. The catalyst may be located and/or immobilized in and/or on the support material. The support material may have holes or pores therein, and the mean diameter of the holes or pores may be between about 10 nm and 50 microns, or between about 10 nm and 10 microns, lOnm and 1 micron, 10 and 500nm, 10 and lOOnm, 1 and 50 microns, 10 and 50 microns, 1 and 10 microns, lOOnm and 1 micron, lOOnm and 15 microns or lOOnm and 10 microns, and may be about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 or 900nm, or about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 microns, or may be greater than 50 microns, for example 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150 or 200 microns. The support material may be such that the activating substance is capable of accessing the catalyst. In many cases, the activating substance is a hydrophilic material, and may be in a polar solution, for example an aqueous solution. Consequently in such cases the support material should be hydrophilic. It may for example comprise a woven or pressed fibre, for example a natural fibre. It may comprise paper, cotton or wool or some other fibrous material. It may comprise a hydrophilic polymer, for example cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl acetate or some other polymer. The support may permit fluid contact between the current collector and anode, and may be such that, on addition of the activating substance to the separator, the current collector and anode are in fluid contact. The separator may comprise a low fluidic resistance material for easy introduction of the substrate, or a solution thereof. The separator may comprise a high absorbance fibre paper, and may be capable of having more of the catalyst (e.g. GOD) associated therewith than normal filter paper (e.g. Whatman Grade 40).
As an alternative, instead of having separator between the anode and the current collector, there may be no separator, and the anode and current collector may be separated by a cavity between them. In this case, enzyme or catalyst may be immobilized on the current collector or a surface of or within the cavity, e.g. on an inner wall of the housing, or of one or both of the housing portions.
In the battery structure of the present invention the catalyst may be associated with the support material. The catalyst may be adsorbed onto the support material, absorbed into the support material, sorbed onto the support material, bound to the support material or associated in some other way with the support material. If the catalyst is bound onto the support material, it may be bound by one or more covalent or ionic bonds, or may be bound by metal complexation or by some other means. The laminated battery structure may comprise an access port for allowing the activating substance to access the separator, and thereby access the catalyst. The access port may be in the form of a hole, a slot, a slit, a cavity, a duct or an aperture, which penetrates through at least one of the housing portions to the support material. The access port may be between about 10 microns and 10mm in diameter or width, and may be between about 100 microns and 10mm, 1 and 10mm, 5 and 10mm, 3 and 5mm, 5 and 10mm, 10 microns and lmm, 10 and 100 microns, 100 microns and 2mm, 1 and 2mm, 2 and 5mm or 2 and 4mm, and may be about 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 or 750 microns or 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10mm in diameter or width. The walls of the port may be hydrophilic, in order to facilitate access of a polar, e.g. aqueous, solution to the interior region, for example to the support material. The battery structure may also have a gas port for permitting egress of air or other gas from the interior region. The egress may facilitate ingress of the activating substance through the access port. The gas port may be between about 10 microns and 10mm in diameter or width, and may be between about 100 microns and 10mm, 1 and 10mm, 5 and 10mm, 3 and 5mm, 5 and 10mm, 10 microns and lmm, 10 and 100 microns, 100 microns and 2mm, 1 and 2mm, 2 and 5mm or 2 and 4mm, and may be about 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 or 750 microns or 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10mm in diameter or width.
The battery structure of the present invention may in some embodiments comprise a breakable chamber containing the activating substance, such that, when the chamber is broken, the activating substance contacts the catalyst, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode. The breakable chamber may be disposed such that, once broken, the chamber communicates with (i.e. is capable of being in fluid communication with) the oxidant, or with the separator, if present. The chamber may be a reservoir, or a bladder, or a compartment. The chamber may be breakable by, for example, exerting pressure on the battery structure, or on a portion thereof. The breakable chamber may comprise a weakened portion (e.g. a scribe mark, a portion of thin wall etc.), said weakened portion being near the separator, such that when the breakable chamber breaks, it breaks at or near the weakened portion so as to ensure fluid communication between the chamber and the separator. If the battery structure comprises a breakable chamber as described above, the battery structure may or may not comprise an access port.
The battery structure may be between about 1 and 20cm in length, and may be between about 1 and 15, 1 and 10, 1 and 5, 5 and 20, 10 and 20 or 5 and 10cm in length, and maybe about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 01, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20cm in length. It may be between about 0.5 and 10cm in width, and may be between about 1 and 7, 1 and 5, 1 and 3, 3 and 10, 5 and 10, 2 and 8 or 3 and 7cm in width, and may be about 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10cm in width. The battery structure may be square, rectangular, quadrilateral, round, oval, triangular, pentagonal, elongated or irregular shaped or some other shape. It may have an approximately flat cross-section. The battery structure may be between about 250 microns and 3mm thick, or between about 250 microns and 2mm, 250 microns and lmm, 250 and 500 microns, 1 and 3mm, 1 and 2mm, 2 and 3mm or 500 microns and 2mm, and may be about 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800 or 90 microns, or about 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 or 3mm thick. The battery structure, or a portion thereof, may be flexible.
The process for fabricating the battery comprises locating the cell assembly between the first and second housing portions. The process may comprise joining or securing the housing portions together, thereby securing the cell assembly between them. The joining or securing may comprise gluing or laminating or some other method. Laminating may comprise applying heat and/or pressure to the housing portions having the cell assembly between them. It may for example comprise passing the housing portions between a pair of rollers, or a plurality of pairs of rollers, capable of applying pressure to the housing portions. The rollers, or at least one of the rollers, may be heated. They (or it) may be heated to a temperature sufficient to laminate the housing portions, but not sufficient to cause the cell assembly to deteriorate in the time required for laminating. The temperature may be between about 50 and 2000C, and may be between about 50 and 100, 100 and 150, 150 and 200, 50 and 150 or 100 and 2000C, and may be about 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 or 2000C, or may be greater than 2000C. The pressure may be between about 2 and 20 atmospheres, or between about 5 and 20, 10 and 20, 2 and 10, 5 and 10 or 5 and 15 atmospheres, and may be about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 atmospheres. The housing portions may be exposed to these conditions for a suitable time. This may be between about 0.1 and 20 seconds, or between about 0.1 and 10, 0.1 and 5, 0.1 and 2, 0.1 and 1, 0.1 and 0.5, 1 and 10, 1 and 20, 10 and 20, 5 and 10, 0.5 and 5 or 0.1 and 1 second, and may be about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 seconds or some other suitable time that does not cause degradation of the catalyst. The housing portions may be passed through 5 the rollers at any convenient speed suitable for laminating the housing portions, for example between about 1 and lOOmm/s, or between about 1 and 50, 1 and 10, 1 and 5, 10 and 100, 50 and 100, 5 and 50, 10 and 50, 10 and 20 or 5 and 20mm/s, and may be at about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100mm/s. The process of laminating may be sufficient to bring the anode and the second electrical o terminal into electrical and/or physical contact.
The process may comprise locating a preformed cell assembly between the first and second housing portions, or it may comprise forming the cell assembly on one of the housing portions, and then locating the other housing portion such that the cell assembly is located between the two housing portions. Alternatively it may comprise forming a first s part of the cell assembly on the first housing portion and forming a second part of the cell assembly on the second housing portion, and then joining the first and second housing portions so that the first and second parts of the cell assembly combine to form the cell assembly. The process of securing the cell assembly between the housing portions may compress the cell assembly, thereby changing the physical relationship between 0 components thereof (for example bringing the anode and second electrical terminal in electrical contact).
The process of locating the cell assembly between the first and second housing portions may be such that an aperture in at least one of the first and second housing portions is located so as to be capable of being used as an access port for allowing access s of an activating substance to the catalyst of the cell assembly. Alternatively the step of forming the aperture may be conducted during or after locating the cell assembly between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, said forming being such that the aperture is located so as to be capable of being used as an access port for allowing access of the activating substance to the catalyst. Electrical terminals may be connected to the current collector and the anode so as to function as electrical terminals for the battery structure. Alternatively, the current collector and anode themselves may extend sufficiently to be capable of functioning as electrical terminals for the battery structure. The electrical terminals, if present may be connected to the electrodes by any commonly known method, including soldering, welding, fusing, gluing using an electrically conductive glue, physically interlocking, clamping, clipping or some other suitable method.
In order to operate the battery structure, the activating substance, optionally in solution, is applied to the battery structure in such a manner that it can pass through the access port to contact the oxidant, and/or, if present, the separator. The activating material may be in liquid form, and may be in solution, for example polar, e.g. aqueous, solution. The activating substance may be dissolved in an electrolyte, and may be provided in an electrolyte solution. The activating substance may comprise a solution of a substrate for the catalyst and an electrolyte. A reaction between the catalyst and the activating substance produces an oxidant, thereby leading to a potential difference (voltage) between the current collector and anode. The battery structure may therefore be used in an electrical circuit, to drive a device, for example a meter, a micromotor, an LED or some other device. Alternatively, if the battery structure comprises a breakable chamber containing the activating substance, the battery may be operated by breaking the breakable chamber, thereby causing the activating substance to contact the catalyst, and generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode
The battery of the present invention, or the battery structure on activation, may be capable of delivering a voltage of between about 0.5 and 10 V5 or between about 0.5 and 5V. or between about 0.5 and 2, 0.5 and 1, 1 and 5, 2 and 5, 0.8 and 1.5 or 0.8 and IV, and may be capable of delivering a voltage of about 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10V. It may be capable of delivering between about 0.01 and 1OmW, or between about 0.05 and 10, 0.1 and 10, 0.5 and 10, 1 and 10, 5 and 10, 0.01 and 5, 0.01 and 1, 0.01 and 0.1, 0.05 and 1, 0.1 and 1, 0.1 and 0.8 or 0.1 and 0.5mW, and may be capable of delivering about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 1OmW. The battery structure may be capable of producing the above voltage and power for at least about 10 minutes, or at least about 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 or 200 minutes, or between about 10 and 200 minutes, or between about 10 and 150, 10 and 120, 10 and 90, 30 and 200, 60 and 200, 90 and 200, 120 and 200, 30 and 120 or 60 and 120 minutes, and may be capable of producing the above voltage for about 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180 or 200 minutes. It may be capable of producing the above voltage and power for the above time on addition of a single drop of solution of activating substance, or on addition of between about 0.02 and 0.2ml of the solution, or between about 0.02 and 0.15, 0.02 and 0.1, 0.02 and 0.05, 0.05 and 0.2, 0.1 and 0.2 or 0.05 and 0.1ml of the solution, or about 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19 or 0.2ml or more than 0.2ml or less than 0.02ml of the solution. The concentration of the activating substance in the solution may be between about 0.001 and 3M, or between about 0.001 and 1, 0.001 and 0.01, 0.001 and 1, 0.005 and 1, 0.05 and 1, 0.1 and 1, 0.1 and 0.5, 0.1 and 0.2, 0.5 and 3, 1 and 3, 0.5 and 2 or 0.5 and IM, and may be about 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 09.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 or 3M. The concentration of the catalyst may be between about 10"7 and 10"2M, or between about 10"7 and 10"3, 10"7 and 10"5, 10"6 and 10"2, 10"5 and 10'2, 10"3 and 10"2, 10"6 and 10'3, 10"6 and 10"4 or 10~5 and 10"3M, and may be about 10'7, 5*10"7, 10"6, 5*10"6, 10"5, 5*10"5, 10"4, 5*10^, 10"3, 5*10"3 or 10"2M. In order to immobilize the catalyst on the support material, the support material may be immersed in a solution of the catalyst, and then removed therefrom (and optionally dried). The concentration of the catalyst referred to above is the concentration in the solution of the catalyst. The voltage and power may be stable over the above time. In this context the voltage and power are considered stable if they do not vary from the original value by more than about 40%, or about 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 or 10%.
The present invention relates, in a particular embodiment, to fabricating a glucose- activated paper battery based on glucose-oxidase enzyme using a simple and cheap plastic laminating technology. The battery may be constructed by passing a stack consisted of magnesium, enzyme-doped paper and copper sandwiched between two plastic films into a roller which bound the whole assembly together using a simple lamination process. A single battery may be capable of delivering a stable voltage and power output of 0.8 - IV and 0.1 - 0.8mW respectively. It may also possible to further improve the enzyme and glucose concentrations as well as the design of the battery in order to improve the power output. The novel idea of making glucose-activated battery by plastic lamination technology has the potential to offer cheap alternative power for many energy-powered medical devices, such as an integrated disposable bio-systems providing onboard power source for the sensing unit and detection of the analytes of interest.
The driving force for the battery structure is the redox reaction of an activating substance, for example a bio-fluid such as glucose, using a catalyst, for example an enzyme such as glucose oxidase. The battery structure of the present invention may be able, for example, to provide onboard electrical power to drive the sensing unit in disposable integrated bio-systems. The sensing unit may be made up of an energy- consuming part such as the biosensor or DNA detector. Once the battery structure is activated, it may yield adequate electrical energy to probe the sensing event and detect an analyte of interest. Example
Fabrication of the laminated battery Figure 1 shows a diagram illustrating a fabrication process for a paper battery structure 10 according to the present invention. In Fig. 1, illustration a shows a copper layer 12 adhered to lower transparent laminating plastic 14 by transparent adhesive 16. Illustration b shows the structure of illustration a with the addition of an aluminium layer patterned as electrical terminals 18 (negative) and 20 (positive). Illustration c shows the structure of illustration c with the addition of special paper 22 doped with GOD on top of the copper layer to function as a separator. Illustration d shows the structure of illustration c with the addition of a magnesium layer patterned as electrode 24. Illustration e shows the structure of illustration d with the addition of upper laminating plastic layer 26, adhered to electrode 24 with adhesive 28, and passing through rollers 30 in order to laminate the structure. Illustration f shows the structure of illustration e having been laminated, and having slits 32 and 34 for air exhalation and for addition of glucose respectively.
Thus assembly 10, comprising magnesium (the current collector), enzyme-doped paper and copper (the anode) is sandwiched between two plastic films and passed into a roller which binds the whole assembly together. A O.lOmm-thick lower transparent plastic film with an adhesive (Figure Ia) was used as a substrate to fabricate the battery structure. A 0.2mm-thick copper layer was deposited (or taped) and patterned to form the positive electrode (Figure Ia). After attaching a 0.2mm-thick aluminum layer (Figure Ib), the aluminum layer was patterned to provide electrical connection and terminals. As shown in Figures l(c) and (d), 0.2mm-thick glucose oxidase enzyme doped paper and a magnesium layer were stacked on the copper layer. After placing the upper transparent plastic film and an adhesive layer on the stack (Figure Ie), the resulting assembly was laminated to form the battery by passing it through the heating rollers. A glucose supply slit (access port) and air exhalation slit (air port) were made on the upper plastic film as shown in Figure 1 (e).
In order to prepare special paper 22 doped with GOD, a solution of known enzyme concentration concentration (e.g. 0.01 mol/L) in phosphate buffer solution or in deionised water was prepared. Dried special paper was weighed, and then immersed in the GOD solution for 5 hours. Then the paper was dried and reweighed. The concentration of the "immohilized" GOD in the special paper was then calculated. Working principle of the glucose-activated battery
Figures 2 and 3 describes the operating principle of a glucose-activated battery structure according to this example. In Fig. 2, illustration a shows the structure before addition of glucose, and illustration b shows the structure after addition of glucose. In illustration a, magnesium electrode 52 and copper electrode 54 are separated by separator
56, which comprises a special paper doped with GOD. The electrodes and the separator are disposed between plastic sheets 57. Glucose droplet 58 is about to be applied to separator 56. hi illustration b, the glucose has been applied to separator 56, and thus doped separator 60 comprises special paper doped with GOD together with glucose. An external load resistor 62 is connected to electrodes 52 and 54 by wires 64 and 66 respectively to complete an electrical circuit. The overall reaction mechanism is summarized as follow: Anode:
Mg -» Mg2+ + 2e Cathode:
Glucose -> Gluconolactone + H2O2 H2O2 + 2e + 2H+ -* 2H2O Once the glucose is added, glucose-oxidase catalyses the oxidation of glucose to gluconolactone and hydrogen peroxide. At the anode, electrons generated from the oxidation of magnesium anode are consumed by the hydrogen peroxide, resulting in an overall reaction producing electrical power and water.
The chemistry is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3. The mechanism comprises two reactions occurring in the glucose oxidase doped paper that is located between the magnesium anode and current collector: (1) glucose oxidation using oxygen and glucose oxidase (GOD) to supply hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and gluconic acid as an electrolyte; (2) anodic reaction on the magnesium surface and cathodic reaction of hydrogen peroxide on the surface of current collector (copper in this example), hi order to prepare the GOD doped paper, filter paper is soaked in a GOD solution and located between the magnesium and the current collector. Reactions Glucose oxidation:
C6H12O6 +o2 +H2o G0D ) C6H12Q7 +H2O2 (i) Overall battery reaction:
Mg + 2C6H12O7 +H2O2 -* C12H24MgO14 + 2H2O (2)
It may be observed from Fig.3 that in the glucose oxidation two glucose molecules are consumed to provide two gluconic acid molecules and two hydrogen peroxide molecules, while one hydrogen peroxide is consumed in Eq. 2. The unconsumed hydrogen peroxide may be decomposed by catalase into water and oxygen. The catalase required for this reaction is commonly present as an impurity in the GOD or may be added into the paper. Prototype battery
Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a glucose-activated laminated battery consisting of a glucose-oxidase coated paper sandwiched between magnesium and copper layers. In Fig. 4, the components are as described for Fig. 1.
Figure 5 shows an optical photograph of the prototype battery. The dimensions of the battery are 7cm x 2cm and of the enzyme-coated paper are 5cm x 2cm. Scanning Electron Microscopy Figure 6 shows SEM micrograph of the cross-section of the laminated battery, clearly indicating the different layers in the battery: upper and lower plastic films, magnesium, glucose-oxidase doped paper and copper. Performance Evaluation
The measured voltage output of the single and double fabricated battery with load resistance of 1 OkΩ and 1 kΩ after introduction of a droplet of glucose is depicted in Figure 7(a) and (b). The battery with a load resistance of lOkΩ and lkΩ achieved a stable working voltage/power of 1.02V/0.1mW and 0.87V/7.7mW, 1.8V/0.32mW and 1.5V/2.25mW for 90 mins, respectively. Glucose-Oxidase Concentration The effect of different enzyme concentrations on the performance of the battery were investigated. As shown in Table 1 and Figure 8, higher enzyme concentration resulted in faster oxidation of glucose, and hence better voltage and power were achieved. Table 1 : Performance chart of the single battery with different glucose-oxidase loading
Figure imgf000027_0001
Conclusions
By using cheap plastic lamination technology, it was possible to fabricate cheap, light-weight, flexible and disposable micro-batteries that run on biological fluid such as glucose. The "bio-battery" is able to deliver stable voltage (1-2V) and power (0.1- 3.OmW) for a period of 90 mins upon addition of a single drop of glucose.

Claims

Claims:
1. A laminated battery structure comprising:
- a housing comprising an interior region, and
- a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, wherein the catalyst is capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant and electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
2. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 where the cell assembly comprises a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode, said separator comprising a support material and a catalyst associated with said support material.
3. The laminated battery structure of claim 2 wherein the support material is selected from porous, microporous, sorbent, adsorbent, absorbent, particulate and microparticulate.
4. The laminated battery structure of claim 3 wherein the support material comprises paper or pulp.
5. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an access port for allowing access of the activating substance to the catalyst.
6. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 having a gas port, for permitting egress of a gas.
7. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween, and wherein the first and second housing portions are each in the form of a sheet and are joined together.
8. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises a biological catalyst.
9. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises an enzyme.
10. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises glucose oxidase (GOD).
11. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the activating substance comprises glucose.
12. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the oxidant is hydrogen peroxide.
13. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 having glucose in the interior region, whereby, in use, the glucose reacts with the catalyst to form gluconic acid or gluconate, said gluconic acid or gluconate being capable of functioning as an electrolyte.
14. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the housing is joined to at least a portion of the cell assembly by an adhesive.
15. The laminated battery structure of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first and second housing portions are joined to at least a portion of the cell assembly by an adhesive.
16. The laminated battery structure of claim 1 wherein the current collector and the anode are electrically connected to a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal respectively.
17. A process for making a laminated battery structure, comprising: - locating a cell assembly between a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said first and second housing portions defining an interior region therebetween, wherein the cell assembly comprises a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region; and - joining the first and second housing portions having the cell assembly therebetween; said catalyst being capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
18. The process of claim 17 wherein the cell assembly comprises a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode, wherein the separator comprises a support material and the catalyst is associated with said support material.
19. The process of claim 17 comprising forming an aperture in at least one of the first and second housing portions, said aperture being capable of being used as an access port for allowing access of an activating substance to the catalyst, and said forming being conducted at a time selected from before, during and after locating the cell assembly between the first housing portion and the second housing portion..
20. The process of claim 17 comprising attaching a first electrical terminal to the current collector and attaching a second electrical terminal to the anode.
21. The process of claim 17 wherein step of joining comprises applying at least one of pressure and heat to the first and second housing portions.
22. The process of claim 17 comprising forming the cell assembly.
23. The process of claim 22 wherein the process of forming the cell assembly comprises the steps of: applying the current collector to the first housing layer; applying a first electrical terminal to the first housing layer such that the first electrical terminal is in electrical contact with the current collector; applying a second electrical terminal to the first housing layer such that the second electrical terminal is not in electrical contact with the current collector; applying the separator to the current collector; applying the anode to the separator such that the anode is not in electrical contact with the current collector and either is in electrical contact with the second electrical terminal or is capable of being brought into contact therewith by application of pressure; and applying the second housing portion to the anode.
24. The process of claim 23 wherein: the step of applying the current collector to the first housing layer comprises applying an adhesive to the first housing layer and applying the current collector to the adhesive, the step of applying the first electrical terminal to the first housing layer comprises applying the first electrical terminal to the to the adhesive, and the step of applying the second electrical terminal to the first housing layer comprises applying the second electrical terminal to the adhesive.
25. A laminated battery structure when made by the process of claim 17.
26. A laminated battery comprising:
- a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween,
- a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, and
- an ionically conducting fluid comprising an activating substance, said fluid being in contact with the separator, the current collector and the anode, wherein said catalyst catalyses reaction of the activating substance to produce an oxidant and an electrolyte, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and anode.
27. The laminated battery of claim 26 comprising a separator interposed between the current collector and the anode, wherein the separator comprises a support material and the catalyst is associated with said support material,
28. A laminated battery comprising a laminated battery structure according to claim 1, and an ionically conducting fluid comprising the activating substance, said fluid being in contact with the separator, the current collector and the anode.
29. A process for making a laminated battery comprising providing a laminated battery structure according to claim 1, and applying the activating substance to the catalyst.
30. The process of claim 29 wherein the step of providing the laminated battery structure comprises making the laminated battery structure according to the process of claim 16.
31. A method for operating a laminated battery structure according to claim 1 comprising: forming an electrical connection between the current collector and the anode, said connection being external to the laminated battery structure; and - applying the activating substance to the catalyst.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of forming an electrical connection comprises forming an electrical connection between a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, said first and second electrical terminals being in electrical connection with the current collector and anode respectively.
33. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of applying the activating substance to the catalyst comprises passing the activating substance through the access port.
34. An electrical circuit comprising a laminated battery structure according to claim 1, the electrodes of said laminated battery structure being electrically connected to an electrical device which is operable by means of electrical power from tiie laminated battery structure.
35. A process for making an electrical circuit comprising electrically connecting the electrodes of a laminated battery structure according to claim 1 to an electrical device.
36. The process of claim 35 wherein the connecting comprises forming an electrical connection between the device and the current collector of the battery structure and forming a separate electrical connection between the device and the anode of the battery structure.
37. An electrical circuit when made by the process of claim 35.
38. A process for operating an electrical circuit according to claim 34 or claim 37 comprising applying the activating substance to the catalyst of the laminated battery structure.
39. A laminated battery structure comprising:
- a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an interior region therebetween, and - a cell assembly located in the interior region, said cell assembly comprising a current collector and an anode, said current collector and anode being physically separated from one another, and a catalyst immobilized within the interior region, wherein the catalyst is capable of catalyzing reaction of an activating substance to produce an oxidant, thereby generating a potential difference between the current collector and the anode.
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