# Patent

## Title
Structure of supercapacitor and method for manufacturing the same

## Abstract

The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor according to the present invention includes the following steps. First, stack a bottom electrode plate and a top electrode plate in parallel. Then, install a first rubber frame and a second rubber frame face-to-face on the bottom and the top electrode plates. The first rubber frame is adapted with a first opening, while the second rubber frame is adapted with a second opening. Next, install an isolation membrane in a space surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames. Afterwards, bind the first and the second rubber frames. Then, produce vacuum in the space. Next, place the bottom and the top electrode plates into an electrolyte to make the electrolyte flow into the space. Finally, use a first resin to seal the first and the second openings. Thereby, the short-circuit phenomenon caused by long-term usage of the supercapacitor can be prevented. In addition, the structural strength of the supercapacitor can be reinforced to avoid electrolyte-leakage phenomenon.

## Background
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a structure of a supercapacitor and a method for manufacturing the same, which can prevent short circuit and electrolyte leakage in a supercapacitor after long-term usage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 7 shows a structural schematic diagram of a supercapacitor according to the prior art. As shown in the figure, the supercapacitor according to the prior art includes a plurality of electrode plates 92 with each electrode plate 92 stacked on each other in parallel. A pad ring 94 is adapted on each of the electrode plate 92, and pad rings 94 of adjacent electrode plates 92 bind to each other such that a gap 95 is formed therebetween. The gap 95 is filled with an electrolyte 96.
When the supercapacitor according to the prior art charges or discharges, the electrolyte 96 will produce thermal expansion. Hence, the gap 95 will be jostled open by the electrolyte 96. If the pad ring 94 is an elastic part, thermal expansion of the electrolyte 96 will be eased. However, after long-term usage, the pad ring 94 will deteriorate owing to the heat generated by charging and discharging of the supercapacitor. Consequently, the pad rings 94 of adjacent electrode plates 92 cannot bind to each other, which will result in leakage of the electrolyte 96 from the gap 95. In addition, it will cause adjacent electrode plates 92 to contact with each other and hence a short circuit results. Thereby, normal operation of the supercapacitor is affected.
Consequently, the present invention provides a structure of a supercapacitor and a method for manufacturing the same, which can prevent short circuit and in a supercapacitor after long-term usage, and can enhance structural strength of a supercapacitor for avoiding electrolyte leakage.
SUMMARY
An objective of the present invention is to provides a structure of a supercapacitor and a method for manufacturing the same, which adapts a first rubber frame and a second rubber frame on a bottom electrode plate and a top electrode plate, respectively. In addition, an isolation membrane is adapted in a space surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames. Thereby, the short-circuit phenomenon caused by contact of the bottom and the top electrode plates after long-term usage of the supercapacitor can be prevented. Hence, the lifetime of the supercapacitor can be increased.
Another objective of the present invention is to provides a structure of a supercapacitor and a method for manufacturing the same, which, by stuffing a second resin between the bottom and the top electrode plates and outside the first and the second rubber frames, the structural strength of the supercapacitor according to the present invention can be enhanced, and thereby electrolyte-leakage phenomenon can be prevented.
A further objective of the present invention is to provides a structure of a supercapacitor and a method for manufacturing the same, which, by adapting the first and the second rubber frames on the bottom and the top electrode plates, when the supercapacitor charges or discharges, expansion of electrolyte is eased, and thereby lifetime of the supercapacitor is increased.
The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor according to the present invention includes the following steps. First, stack a bottom electrode plate and a top electrode plate, and make them parallel to each other. Then, install a first rubber frame and a second rubber frame on the bottom and the top electrode plates, wherein a first opening is adapted in the first rubber frame, and a second opening is adapted in the second rubber frame, and the first and the second rubber frames face each other. Next, install an isolation membrane in a space surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames. Afterwards, heat the bottom and the top electrode plates to bind the first and the second rubber frames. After that, produce vacuum in the space. Then, place the bottom and the top electrode plates in an electrolyte to make the electrolyte flow into the space. Finally, use a first resin to seal the first and the second openings. After the step of using the first resin to seal the openings, stuff a second resin between the bottom and the top electrode plates and outside the first and the second rubber frames.
The structure of a supercapacitor according to the present invention includes a bottom electrode plate, a top electrode plate, an isolation membrane, and an electrolyte. The bottom and the top electrode plates parallel with and stack on each other. A first rubber frame is adapted atop the bottom electrode plate, while a second rubber frame is adapted below the top electrode plate. The first and the second rubber frames bind with each other. The isolation membrane is adapted between the top and the bottom electrode plates, and is located in a space surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames. The electrolyte is filled in the space. In addition, a second resin is adapted between the bottom and the top electrode plates and outside the first and the second rubber frames.
By installing the membrane in the space, the short-circuit phenomenon after long-term usage of the supercapacitor can be prevented. By stuffing the second resin between the bottom and the top electrode plates, the structural strength of a supercapacitor is enhanced for avoiding electrolyte leakage. Hence, the lifetime of the supercapacitor can be increased.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a supercapacitor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2A shows a side view of a supercapacitor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2B shows another side view from another direction of a supercapacitor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2C shows a flowchart according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a supercapacitor immersed in an electrolyte according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4A shows a flowchart according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4B shows a side view of a supercapacitor according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5A shows a side view of a supercapacitor according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5B shows another side view from another direction of a supercapacitor according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 shows a side view of a supercapacitor according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 shows a side view of a supercapacitor according to the prior art.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In order to make the structure and characteristics as well as the effectiveness of the present invention to be further understood and recognized, the detailed description of the present invention is provided as follows along with preferred embodiments and accompanying figures.
FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B show a three-dimensional view, a side view, and another side view from another direction, respectively, of a supercapacitor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the structure of a supercapacitor according to the present invention includes a bottom electrode plate 10, a top electrode plate 20, an isolation membrane 30, and an electrolyte 40. The bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 parallel with and stack on each other. A first rubber frame 12 is adapted atop the bottom electrode plate 10, while a second rubber frame 22 is adapted below the top electrode plate 20. The first and the second rubber frames 12, 22 bind with each other. The isolation membrane 30 is adapted between the top and the bottom electrode plates 20, 10, and is located in a space 35 surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22. The electrolyte 40 is filled in the space 35.
When the supercapacitor is used for a long time, the first rubber frame 12 or the second rubber frame 22 will deteriorate owing to environmental factors, such as the heat produced during charging and discharging of the supercapacitor. Thereby, the first rubber frame 12 and the second rubber frame 22 cannot bind with each other any longer. As a result, the bottom electrode plate 10 and the top electrode plate 20 will contact with each other and cause a short circuit, affecting normal operations of the supercapacitor. Consequently, the isolation membrane 30 is adapted in the space 35 surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22 for preventing contact of the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20. Thereby, lifetime of the supercapacitor can be increased.
The first rubber frame 12 is adapted with a first opening 122, while the second rubber frame 22 is adapted with a second opening 222. Thereby, it is convenient to fill the electrolyte 40 between the bottom electrode plate 10 and the top electrode plate 20. After the electrolyte is filled in the space 35, a first resin 50 is adapted in the first opening 122 and the second opening 222 for sealing the first and the second openings 122, 222. The material of the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22 includes elastic polymer materials, which include rubber or polybutadiene. Because the material of the first rubber frame 12 and the second rubber frame 22 is an elastic polymer material, when the supercapacitor charges or discharges, volume expansion of the electrolyte 40 can be eased, and lifetime of the supercapacitor can be increased.
The supercapacitor according to the present invention further includes a second resin 60, which includes epoxy resin. The second resin 60 is adapted between the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20, and is located outside the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22. By means of the second resin 60, the structural strength of the supercapacitor according to the present invention is enhanced, and thereby electrolyte-leakage phenomenon can be prevented.
FIG. 2C shows a flowchart according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a method for manufacturing a supercapacitor according to the present invention is described. First, the step S1 is execute for stacking a bottom electrode plate 10 and a top electrode plate 20, and making the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 parallel to each other. Then, the step S2 is executed for installing a first rubber frame 12 and a second rubber frame 22 on the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20, wherein a first opening 122 is adapted in the first rubber frame 12, a second opening 222 is adapted in the second rubber frame 22, and the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22 face each other. The first and the second rubber frames 12, 22 are installed on the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 by means of gluing, screen printing, or spraying. Next, the step S3 is performed for installing an isolation membrane 30 in a space 35 surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22. Afterwards, the step S4 is executed for heating the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 to bind the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22. To heat the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20, heating methods including contact heating by thermal resistors, hot-wind heating, or infrared heating can be applied. After that, the step S5 is performed for producing vacuum in the space 35.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a supercapacitor immersed in an electrolyte 40 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, after the step of producing vacuum in the space 35, the step S6 is performed for placing the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 in an electrolyte 40 to make the electrolyte 40 flow into the space 35. In order to fill the electrolyte 40 in the space 35, the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 are placed in a container 70 containing the electrolyte 40. Then, the container 70 is vacuumed to make the air in the space 35 flow out. Thereby, the electrolyte can flow into the space 35. Afterwards, the step S7 is executed for using a first resin 50 to seal the first and the second openings 122, 222.
In order to reinforce the structural strength of the supercapacitor, after the step S7, the step S8 is executed for stuffing a second resin 60 between the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 and outside the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22. Because the gap between the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 is small, which is about 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters only, and the distance between the first rubber frame 12 and the bottom electrode plate 10, and the distance between the second rubber frame 22 and the top electrode plate 20 are between 1 to 3 millimeters, respectively, the second resin 60 can flow between the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 by capillary actions, and thereby fill the whole outside of the supercapacitor. Then, the step S10 is performed for hardening the second resin 60. Place the supercapacitor with the second resin 60 still for 12 to 24 hours, or heat it to 60 to 80 degrees Celsius, to harden the second resin 60.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show a flowchart and a side view according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the difference between the present embodiment from the previous one is that, in the previous embodiment, after the step S7, the step of stuffing a second resin 60 between the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20 and outside the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22 is performed. However, in the present embodiment, after the step S7, which uses a first resin 50 to seal the first and the second openings 122, 222, the step S81 is executed for covering a shell 65 outside the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20. The material of the shell 65 includes hard epoxy resin. By means if the shell 65, the structural strength of the supercapacitor is increased.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show a side view and another side view from another direction of a supercapacitor, respectively, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the difference between the present embodiment from the previous one is that, in the present embodiment, a plurality of electrode plates parallels with and stacks on each other. The plurality of electrode plates includes a bottom electrode plate 10, a plurality of middle electrode plates 80, and a top electrode plate 20. Atop the bottom electrode plate 10 and the middle electrode plates 80, first rubber frames 12 are adapted, respectively. Below the top electrode plate 20 and the middle electrode plates 80, second rubber frames 22 are adapted, respectively. The first rubber frames 12 and the second rubber frames 22 of adjacent electrode plates bind to each other such that spaces 35 are surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22. In each of the spaces 35, an isolation membrane 30 is adapted, and an electrolyte 40 is filled within. In addition, second resins 60 are adapted between adjacent electrode plates and outside the first and the second rubber frames 12, 22.
FIG. 6 shows a side view of a supercapacitor according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the difference between the present embodiment from the previous one is that, in the present embodiment, the second resins 60 between adjacent electrode plates are not installed. In the present embodiment, a shell 65 covers outside the bottom and the top electrode plates 10, 20. The material of the shell 65 includes a hard epoxy resin. By means of the shell 65 covering the supercapacitor, the structural strength of the supercapacitor is reinforced.
To sum up, the method for manufacturing a supercapacitor according to the present invention includes the following steps. First, stack the bottom and the top electrode plate in parallel, and install the first and the second rubber frames face-to-face on the bottom and the top electrode plates, respectively. Then, install an isolation membrane in the space surrounded by the first and the second rubber frames, and bind the first and the second rubber frames. Next, produce vacuum in the space, and place the bottom and the top electrode plates into the electrolyte. Finally, use the first resin to seal the first and the second openings, and install the second resin outside the first and the second rubber frames. Thereby, the structural strength of the supercapacitor according to the present invention can be reinforced, and electrolyte expansion phenomenon when the supercapacitor charges or discharges can be eased. In addition, contact of the bottom and the top electrode plates can be avoided. Hence, lifetime of the supercapacitor can be increased.
Accordingly, the present invention conforms to the legal requirements owing to its novelty, non-obviousness, and utility. However, the foregoing description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not used to limit the scope and range of the present invention. Those equivalent changes or modifications made according to the shape, structure, feature, or spirit described in the claims of the present invention are included in the appended claims of the present invention.

## Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a supercapacitor, comprising steps of:
a. stacking a bottom electrode plate and a top electrode plate, and making the bottom and the top electrode plates parallel to each other;
b. providing a pair of elastic frames formed of polybutadiene;
c. installing a first of the pair of elastic frames and a second of the pair of elastic frames respectively on the bottom and the top electrode plates, a first opening being formed between terminal ends of the first elastic frame, a second opening being formed between terminal ends of the second elastic frame, and the first and the second elastic frames being disposed facing each other with the first and second openings being in aligned overlaying relationship to form a single access to a space surrounded by the first and second elastic frames;
d. installing an isolation membrane in the space surrounded by the first and the second elastic frames;
e. heating the bottom and the top electrode plates to bind the first and the second elastic frames;
f. submerging the bottom and the top electrode plates of a resulting structure of step e in a container of an electrolyte;
g. evacuating the container to make the electrolyte flow into the space while the resulting structure is submerged in the electrolyte; and
h. inserting a first resin on an inner side of said pair of elastic frames to seal the single access;
i. inserting a second resin on an outer side of said pair of elastic frames in direct contact with the first resin between the bottom and the top electrode plates, said second resin being partially external and outside the first and the second elastic frames to further seal the single access; and
j. forming a shell over said bottom and top electrode plates.

2. The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor of claim 1, and further comprising a step of hardening the second resin after the step of inserting a second resin between the bottom and the top electrode plates and outside the first and the second elastic frames.

3. The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor of claim 1, wherein capillary actions are used for inserting the second resin between the bottom and the top electrode plates and outside the first and the second frames.

4. The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor of claim 1, wherein contact heating by thermal resistors, hot-wind heating, or infrared heating is applied for heating the bottom and the top electrode plates to bind the first and the second elastic frames.

5. The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor of claim 1, wherein the material of the second resin includes an epoxy resin.

6. The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor of claim 1, wherein the material of the shell includes hard epoxy resin.

7. The method for manufacturing a supercapacitor of claim 1, wherein gluing, screen printing, or spraying is applied for installing the first elastic frame and the second elastic frame on the bottom and the top electrode plates.