US 12,113,184 B2
Thin-film reference electrodes, electrochemical devices including thin-film reference electrodes, and methods of making thin-film reference electrodes
Jing Gao, Rochester, MI (US); Brian J. Koch, Berkley, MI (US); Zhe Li, Rochester, MI (US); Alfred Zhang, Troy, MI (US); and Gayatri V. Dadheech, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/752,185.
Application 17/752,185 is a continuation of application No. 16/577,934, filed on Sep. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,374,268.
Prior Publication US 2022/0285748 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01M 10/04 (2006.01); B05D 1/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/48 (2013.01) [B05D 1/005 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
providing a subassembly comprising a separator layer and a current collector layer coupled to the separator layer, the separator layer being porous and electrically insulating, the current collector layer being electrically conductive;
providing an electrode ink comprising an electroactive material, a binder, and a solvent;
creating a reference electrode precursor by spin-coating an electroactive precursor layer directly to a surface of the current collector layer of the subassembly, the electroactive precursor layer covering an area of greater than or equal to about 70% of the entire superficial surface of the surface of the current collector layer, the electroactive precursor layer comprising the electrode ink; and
creating the reference electrode assembly by drying the electroactive precursor layer to remove at least a portion of the solvent, thereby forming an electroactive layer, the electroactive layer being solid and porous, the electroactive layer defining a thickness of greater than or equal to about 0.2 micrometers to less than or equal to about 1 micrometers and a first porosity of greater than or equal to about 40% to less than or equal to about 60%.