A device that combines infrared control and energy storage characteristics

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device that takes into account both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics, and belongs to the field of infrared regulation and energy storage technology, including a first infrared-transmitting PE film, a zinc storage electrode, a gel electrolyte layer, a conductive metal mesh layer, and a second infrared-transmitting PE film layer stacked in sequence from bottom to top; by applying different high and low levels to the zinc storage electrode and the conductive metal mesh layer, infrared regulation of the upper layer of the device is achieved; when the infrared characteristics of the upper layer of the device are in a low-emissivity state, the zinc storage electrode and the conductive metal mesh layer are used as electrodes of an external load to achieve power supply to the external load, and have an energy storage function. The present invention utilizes the reversible deposition process of zinc metal on the conductive metal mesh layer to achieve the function of decoupling the regulation of infrared emissivity and the energy storage characteristics; during the discharge process, the emissivity will not change simultaneously with the reduction of the remaining power of the device, which greatly improves the practicality of the infrared regulation and energy storage integrated device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of infrared regulation and energy storage, and in particular relates to a device having both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics. Background Art

[0002] Electrotropic infrared emissivity devices have attracted extensive attention in the fields of thermal control and camouflage because of their adjustable and controllable infrared emissivity. The principle of traditional electrotropic infrared emissivity devices is that under the action of an external electric field, the physical properties of the electrotropic infrared emissivity material undergo stable and reversible changes as ions are embedded or extracted, thereby achieving regulation of the infrared emissivity of the device. In this process, there is a conversion of electrical energy and chemical energy, so the device can also have energy storage characteristics.

[0003] After searching the existing literature and patents, it was found that there are currently integrated devices that use electrochromic infrared materials such as polyaniline to connect with electrode materials with high ion storage properties and large electrode potential difference to achieve both emissivity regulation and energy storage. For example, it has been reported (Wang Yi. Research on reflective electrochromic multifunctional thin film devices based on polyaniline materials [D]. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 2022, Electrochimica Acta, 2022, 435: 141274, etc.) that polyaniline materials are used as electrochromic infrared electrodes and zinc is used as the counter electrode to assemble an integrated device that takes into account both emissivity regulation and energy storage. As charging and discharging proceed, the zinc ions in the electrolyte are reversibly embedded / released into the polyaniline material, so that its infrared characteristics and charge change simultaneously with the change in the amount of zinc ions embedded, such as Figure 1 As shown, a device that takes into account both electrotropic infrared and energy storage is realized. However, this device structure cannot realize the function of decoupling and separating infrared regulation and electrical energy storage, that is, the infrared characteristics will change with the change of the power of the device. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new type of electrotropic infrared device structure to achieve the effect of separating the energy storage characteristics from the infrared characteristics, which will have important research value and application prospects in the fields of aerospace and military reconnaissance. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that takes both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics into consideration, thereby realizing the function of decoupling infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A device that takes into account both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics, comprising a first infrared-transmitting PE (polyethylene) film, a zinc storage electrode, a gel electrolyte layer, a conductive metal mesh layer, and a second infrared-transmitting PE film layer stacked in sequence from bottom to top;

[0007] By applying different high and low voltage levels to the zinc storage electrode and the conductive metal mesh layer, infrared control of the upper layer of the device can be achieved; when the infrared characteristics of the upper layer of the device show a low emissivity state, the zinc storage electrode and the conductive metal mesh layer are used as electrodes of the external load to power the external load, thereby having an energy storage function.

[0008] Furthermore, the zinc storage electrode is a ZnMn2O4 electrode, a Zn 0.25 One of V2O5·H2O electrode, Zn3V2O7·2H2O electrode, and Zn3[Fe(CN)6]2 electrode.

[0009] Furthermore, the diameter of the metal wires of the conductive metal mesh layer is between 1 and 100 μm, and the mesh number is between 5 and 50.

[0010] Furthermore, the material of the conductive metal mesh layer is an alloy consisting of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, iron, nickel and tungsten.

[0011] Furthermore, the gel electrolyte layer is prepared by dissolving small molecules of the polymer material in a solvent, heating and polymerizing with zinc salt, and cooling to plasticize the polymer material; wherein the mass ratio of the polymer material to the zinc salt is 1:(0.5-5).

[0012] Furthermore, the infrared emissivity of the polymer material is higher than that of zinc metal, and specifically is one or more of polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinylidene fluoride, and gelatin; and the solvent is deionized water or N-methylpyrrolidone.

[0013] Furthermore, the zinc salt is one or more of zinc sulfate, zinc perchlorate, zinc acetate, zinc nitrate, zinc chloride, zinc bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, zinc trifluoromethylsulfonate, zinc tetrafluoroborate and hydrates thereof.

[0014] Furthermore, the thickness of the gel electrolyte layer is 0.1-1 cm.

[0015] Furthermore, during infrared control, the potential difference between the high level and the low level ranges from 0.5V to 2V.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] The present invention provides a device that takes into account both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics, and creatively uses the reversible deposition process of zinc metal on a conductive metal mesh layer as a common electrode for infrared emissivity regulation and a zinc-based energy storage battery, thereby realizing the function of decoupling infrared emissivity regulation from energy storage characteristics; during the discharge process of the device, since the covering zinc metal has a certain thickness, the emissivity will not change simultaneously with the reduction of the remaining power of the device during the release of electricity, thereby greatly improving the practicality of the integrated infrared regulation and energy storage device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 The infrared reflectivity test results of the reflective electrochromic multifunctional thin film device based on polyaniline materials under different charge and discharge conditions reported in the literature;

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a device that combines infrared control and energy storage characteristics provided in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the device having both infrared control and energy storage characteristics provided in Example 1 of the present invention in three different working modes;

[0021] Figure 4 Infrared thermal imaging images of the device having both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics under different charge and discharge states provided in Example 1 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The technical solution of the present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments.

[0023] Example 1

[0024] This embodiment provides a device that takes into account both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics, and the structure is as follows Figure 2 As shown, it includes a first infrared-transmitting PE film, a zinc storage electrode, a gel electrolyte layer, a conductive metal mesh layer and a second infrared-transmitting PE film layer stacked in sequence from bottom to top.

[0025] Wherein, the zinc storage electrode is a ZnMn2O4 electrode; the material of the conductive metal mesh layer is copper, the diameter of the metal wire is between 1 and 100 μm, and the mesh number is 5 to 50.

[0026] The preparation process of the device with both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics provided in this embodiment is specifically as follows:

[0027] Step 1, preparation of ZnMn2O4 electrode:

[0028] Step 1.1, calcining zinc acetate and manganese acetate in a molar ratio of 1:2 at 700° C. in air for two hours to obtain ZnMn2O4 powder;

[0029] Step 1.2, select a 400-mesh stainless steel mesh as a current collector, add ZnMn2O4 powder, conductive carbon black and polytetrafluoroethylene in a mass ratio of 8:1:1 to 2 mL of N-methylpyrrolidone as a slurry, and use a 5-micron-thick four-sided preparation device to coat the slurry on the stainless steel mesh; then dry it in an oven at 60°C to obtain a ZnMn2O4 electrode that can be used to store zinc ions;

[0030] Step 2: Preparation of gel electrolyte layer:

[0031] Step 2.1, dissolving 10 g of polyvinyl alcohol in 100 mL of water, heating to 90° C. to completely melt it, then adding 5 g of zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate thereto, and stirring thoroughly for 30 min to obtain a mixture;

[0032] Step 2.2, pour the mixture into a mold with a thickness of 0.5 cm until it is completely cooled, and then cut to obtain a gel electrolyte layer;

[0033] Step 3: The stainless steel mesh carrying the ZnMn2O4 electrode is sandwiched with the gel electrolyte layer and the copper conductive metal mesh layer, and is encapsulated in a PE film with the assistance of a vacuum plastic sealing machine. The tabs are drawn out and the bubbles in the device are removed by vacuum to obtain a device that has both infrared control and energy storage characteristics.

[0034] Figure 3 The schematic diagrams of the device with both infrared control and energy storage characteristics provided in this embodiment in three different working modes are as follows:

[0035] For the device in the initial state (ZnMn2O4 electrode at this time), when the conductive metal mesh layer is connected to a low level and the ZnMn2O4 electrode is connected to a high level, on the one hand, the zinc ions in the gel electrolyte layer are electroplated and deposited on the conductive metal mesh layer as zinc metal, and on the other hand, the ZnMn2O4 electrode reacts, and the zinc therein is de-embedded into the gel electrolyte layer to supplement the zinc ions to maintain the stability of the electrolyte composition, thereby converting into MnO2; after the zinc metal completely fills the conductive metal mesh layer, the infrared characteristics of the upper layer of the device show a low emissivity state of the metal, that is, it is in a low emissivity mode, at this time the conductive metal mesh layer becomes a zinc electrode, the ZnMn2O4 electrode becomes a MnO2 electrode, and the device is fully charged;

[0036] For the device in the low-emissivity state, its MnO2 electrode and zinc electrode are connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the load respectively. The potential difference between MnO2 and zinc makes the device act as an energy storage battery, which can be discharged to drive the load to work, that is, it is in the energy storage battery mode;

[0037] In addition, for devices in a low emissivity state, the conductive metal mesh layer can be connected to a high level and the ZnMn2O4 electrode can be connected to a low level. At this time, the zinc electrode is dissolved into zinc ions, de-embedded into the gel electrolyte layer, and then reacts with the MnO2 electrode to be reconverted into the ZnMn2O4 electrode. After the zinc electrode is completely dissolved, the infrared characteristics of the upper layer of the device are manifested as a high emissivity state of the gel electrolyte layer under the conductive metal mesh layer, that is, it is in a high emissivity mode.

[0038] Furthermore, since both the ZnMn2O4 electrode and the gel electrolyte layer contain zinc, and the zinc metal electroplated on the conductive metal mesh layer has a certain thickness, the device can always maintain a low infrared emissivity state before the end of complete discharge, that is, the emissivity will not change simultaneously with the decrease of the remaining power of the device during the release of electricity; until the end of complete discharge, the conductive metal mesh exposes the gel electrolyte layer underneath, and the device again exhibits a high infrared emissivity state.

[0039] In existing reports (Wang Yi. Research on reflective electrochromic multifunctional thin film devices based on polyaniline materials [D]. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 2022), when polyaniline materials are used as infrared control and energy storage layers, their infrared characteristics gradually change as the voltage increases from 0.5V to 1.6V, such as Figure 1 As shown in the figure, this is because the amount of zinc ions embedded in different charge and discharge stages is different, which leads to different infrared characteristics of the color-changing material. It can be seen that it is difficult to separate infrared regulation and energy storage based on the infrared regulation-energy storage integrated device based on the ion embedding and extraction mechanism.

[0040] The device provided in this embodiment that takes into account both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics is realized based on metal reversible deposition. The infrared thermal imaging images under different charge and discharge states are as follows: Figure 4 As shown in the figure, in both the fully charged state and the half-charged state, the outermost layer of the device is low-emissivity zinc element. Therefore, the infrared characteristics of the device will not change with the change of power in this process. Until the device is fully discharged and the zinc element is completely dissolved, the outermost layer of the device will be a high-emissivity gel electrolyte layer, thereby realizing the function of separating and regulating infrared characteristics and energy storage characteristics.

[0041] The above embodiments only illustrate the principles and advantages of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. They are only intended to help understand the principles of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above configurations and embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various other specific modifications and combinations based on the disclosed technology without departing from the essence of the present invention, but they are still within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device that takes into account both infrared regulation and energy storage characteristics, characterized in that: It includes a first infrared-transmitting PE film, a zinc storage electrode, a gel electrolyte layer, a conductive metal mesh layer and a second infrared-transmitting PE film layer stacked in sequence from bottom to top; The zinc storage electrode is a ZnMn2O4 electrode, a Zn 0.25 One of V2O5·H2O electrode, Zn3V2O7·2H2O electrode, and Zn3[Fe(CN)6]2 electrode; The material of the conductive metal mesh layer is an alloy of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, iron, nickel and tungsten; The gel electrolyte layer is prepared by dissolving small molecules of the polymer material in a solvent, heating and polymerizing with zinc salt, and cooling and plasticizing the polymer material; wherein the mass ratio of the polymer material to the zinc salt is 1:(0.5-5); By applying different high and low voltage levels to the zinc storage electrode and the conductive metal mesh layer, infrared control of the upper layer of the device can be achieved; when the infrared characteristics of the upper layer of the device show a low emissivity state, the zinc storage electrode and the conductive metal mesh layer are used as electrodes of the external load to power the external load, thereby having an energy storage function.

2. The device having both infrared control and energy storage characteristics according to claim 1, characterized in that: The polymer material is specifically one or more of polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinylidene fluoride, and gelatin; and the solvent is deionized water or N-methylpyrrolidone.

3. The device having both infrared control and energy storage characteristics according to claim 1, characterized in that: The zinc salt is one or more of zinc sulfate, zinc perchlorate, zinc acetate, zinc nitrate, zinc chloride, zinc bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, zinc trifluoromethylsulfonate, zinc tetrafluoroborate and hydrates thereof.

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