Method for modifying the surface wettability of a microcup e-paper

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper, belonging to the field of wettability modification technology. The modification method disclosed in this invention mainly involves immersing microcup-shaped electronic paper in a silane coupling agent solution, ultrasonicating it, adding water, continuing ultrasonication, removing the paper, washing it, and drying it to obtain surface-modified microcup-shaped electronic paper. Due to the incomplete wetting of certain areas during the electrophoresis solution pouring process, phenomena such as leakage and air bubbles occur, resulting in poor image color development and a short lifespan for the electronic paper. The modification method of this invention can solve this problem. Furthermore, the modification method of this invention has the advantages of simple process flow, readily available raw materials, and wide application range, and can be applied on a large scale in the production of microcup-shaped electronic paper.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electronic paper modification technology, and relates to a method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional electronic displays suffer from high power consumption and bulky size, which can easily cause eye fatigue and eye diseases during use. In contrast, electronic paper, based on electrophoretic display technology, uses reflected light to display colors, offering advantages such as being eye-friendly, having low power consumption, and being thin and light. Therefore, electronic paper represents a new type of display.

[0003] Microcup electronic paper is currently the mainstream technology for electronic paper displays, but it faces the challenge of filling the electrophoretic solution. This is because the materials commonly used in microcup fabrication are hydrophilic, while the electrophoretic solution is an organic solvent system, and the microcup dimensions range from a few micrometers to tens of micrometers. Consequently, the electrophoretic solution cannot be properly filled into the microcup, affecting color rendering and the lifespan of the electronic paper.

[0004] Therefore, modifying the wettability of the microcup surface to improve the wettability of the electrophoretic solution on the microcup surface has become an important direction for optimizing the electronic paper production process. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] 1. A method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper, the modification method comprising the following steps:

[0008] (1) The microcup-shaped electronic paper is immersed in a silane coupling agent solution and sonicated at 40–100 kHz for 0.5–20 min to obtain a solution for immersing the microcup-shaped electronic paper.

[0009] (2) After the ultrasound in step (1) is completed, add water to the solution in which the microcup-shaped electronic paper is soaked, and sonicate at 40-100 kHz for 0.5-3 min.

[0010] (3) After the ultrasound in step (2) is completed, the processed microcup-shaped electronic paper is taken out, cleaned with anhydrous ethanol and dried to obtain the surface-modified microcup-shaped electronic paper.

[0011] Preferably, in step (1), the silane coupling agent solution is prepared by adding the silane coupling agent to anhydrous ethanol and sonicating it to completely dissolve it, thereby preparing a silane coupling agent solution with a volume concentration of 0.1% to 10%.

[0012] Preferably, in step (1), the material of the microcup-shaped electronic paper is any one of polyester, polyolefin or polyimide.

[0013] Preferably, in step (1), the silane coupling agent is any one of 3-aminopropyltriethyloxysilane, 3-(methacryloyloxy)-propyltrimethoxysilane, n-hexyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane, or N-dodecyltrimethoxysilane.

[0014] Preferably, in step (2), the volume ratio of the solution used to soak the microcup-shaped electronic paper to water is 10:5 to 100, mL:μL.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention discloses a method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper. The method mainly involves immersing the microcup in a silane coupling agent solution, ultrasonicating it, adding water, continuing ultrasonication, removing it, cleaning it, and drying it to obtain the surface-modified microcup. Due to the incomplete wetting of certain areas during the electrophoresis solution filling process, phenomena such as leakage and air bubbles occur, resulting in poor image color development and a short lifespan for electronic paper. The modification method of this invention can solve this problem. Furthermore, the modification method of this invention has the advantages of simple process flow, readily available raw materials, and wide application range, and can be applied on a large scale in the production of microcup.

[0016] Other advantages, objectives, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following examination, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained through the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a surface modification process for microcup electronic paper provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 Image showing the wetting effect of the mixed electrophoretic solution on the surface of untreated microcup electronic paper;

[0020] Figure 3 A diagram showing the surface wetting effect of the microcup electronic paper obtained by treating the mixed electrophoretic solution in Example 1.

[0021] Figure 4 A diagram showing the surface wetting effect of the microcup electronic paper obtained by treating the mixed electrophoretic solution in Example 2;

[0022] Figure 5 A diagram showing the surface wetting effect of the microcup electronic paper obtained by treating the mixed electrophoretic solution in Example 3;

[0023] Figure 6 A diagram showing the surface wetting effect of the microcup electronic paper obtained by treating the mixed electrophoretic solution in Example 4.

[0024] Figure 7 The image shows the surface wetting effect of the microcup electronic paper obtained by treating it with the mixed electrophoresis solution in Example 5. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0026] Example 1

[0027] A method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper specifically includes the following steps:

[0028] (1) Take 10 mL of anhydrous ethanol as a solvent, add 15 μL of 3-aminopropyltriethyloxysilane, and sonicate at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min to dissolve it, so as to obtain a uniform 3-aminopropyltriethyloxysilane solution with a concentration of 1.5 mL / L.

[0029] (2) The washed polyester microcup electronic paper is immersed in the 3-aminopropyltriethyloxysilane solution prepared in step (1) and ultrasonically dispersed at a frequency of 40 kHz for 3 min to obtain a solution in which the microcup electronic paper is immersed.

[0030] (3) Add 100 μL of deionized water to the above solution for soaking microcup-shaped electronic paper and ultrasonically disperse at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min.

[0031] (4) Take out the processed microcup, rinse it with anhydrous ethanol, and dry it in an oven at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain the surface-modified microcup electronic paper.

[0032] Example 2

[0033] A method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper specifically includes the following steps:

[0034] (1) Take 10 mL of anhydrous ethanol as solvent, add 15 μL of 3-(methacryloyloxy)-propyltrimethoxysilane, and sonicate at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min to dissolve it, so as to obtain a uniform 3-(methacryloyloxy)-propyltrimethoxysilane solution with a concentration of 1.5 mL / L.

[0035] (2) The washed polyester microcup electronic paper is immersed in the 3-(methacryloyloxy)-propyltrimethoxysilane solution prepared in step (1) and ultrasonically dispersed at a frequency of 40 kHz for 3 min to obtain a solution in which the microcup electronic paper is immersed.

[0036] (3) Add 100 μL of deionized water to the above solution for soaking microcup-shaped electronic paper and ultrasonically disperse at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min.

[0037] (4) Take out the processed microcup electronic paper, rinse it with anhydrous ethanol, and dry it in an oven at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain surface-modified microcup electronic paper.

[0038] Example 3

[0039] A method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper specifically includes the following steps:

[0040] (1) Take 10 mL of anhydrous ethanol as a solvent, add 15 μL of n-hexyltrimethoxysilane, and sonicate at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min to dissolve it, so as to obtain a uniform n-hexyltrimethoxysilane solution with a concentration of 1.5 mL / L.

[0041] (2) The washed polyester microcup electronic paper is immersed in the n-hexyltrimethoxysilane solution prepared in step (1) and ultrasonically dispersed at a frequency of 40 kHz for 3 min to obtain a solution in which the microcup electronic paper is immersed.

[0042] (3) Add 100 μL of deionized water to the above solution for soaking microcup-shaped electronic paper and ultrasonically disperse at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min.

[0043] (4) Take out the processed microcup electronic paper, rinse it with anhydrous ethanol, and dry it in an oven at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain surface-modified microcup electronic paper.

[0044] Example 4

[0045] A method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper specifically includes the following steps:

[0046] (1) Take 10 mL of anhydrous ethanol as a solvent, add 15 μL of phenyltriethoxysilane, and sonicate it at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min to dissolve it, so as to obtain a uniform phenyltriethoxysilane solution with a concentration of 1.5 mL / L.

[0047] (2) The washed polyimide microcup electronic paper is immersed in the phenyltriethoxysilane solution prepared in step (1) and ultrasonically dispersed at a frequency of 40 kHz for 3 min to obtain a solution in which the microcup electronic paper is immersed.

[0048] (3) Add 100 μL of deionized water to the above solution for soaking microcup-shaped electronic paper and ultrasonically disperse at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min.

[0049] (4) Take out the processed microcup electronic paper, rinse it with anhydrous ethanol, and dry it in an oven at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain surface-modified microcup electronic paper.

[0050] Example 5

[0051] A method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper specifically includes the following steps:

[0052] (1) Take 10 mL of anhydrous ethanol as solvent, add 15 μL of N-dodecyltrimethoxysilane, and sonicate at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min to dissolve it, so as to obtain a uniform N-dodecyltrimethoxysilane solution with a concentration of 1.5 mL / L.

[0053] (2) The washed polyester microcup electronic paper is immersed in the N-dodecyltrimethoxysilane solution prepared in step (1) and ultrasonically dispersed at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5 min to obtain a solution in which the microcup electronic paper is immersed.

[0054] (3) Add 100 μL of deionized water to the above solution of soaking microcup electronic paper and ultrasonically disperse at a frequency of 40 kHz for 0.5 min;

[0055] (4) Take out the processed microcup electronic paper, rinse it with anhydrous ethanol, and dry it in an oven at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain surface-modified microcup electronic paper.

[0056] Performance testing

[0057] Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of the method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper disclosed in this invention.

[0058] The surface wetting area of ​​10 μL of mixed electrophoresis solution (containing 5 wt.% electrophoretic particles, which are a mixture of alkanes) was tested on untreated microcup electronic paper and the microcup electronic paper prepared after modification in Examples 1-5. The wetting effects were as follows: Figures 2-7 As shown (where Figure 2 To assess the wetting effect of the microcup electronic paper before treatment, Figures 3-7 The wetting effect of the modified microcup electronic paper in Examples 1 to 5 is shown in Table 1 below, and the area test results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0059] Table 1. Surface wetting area of ​​different microcup electronic papers in electrophoresis solution

[0060]

[0061] From Table 1 and Figures 2-7 It can be seen that the wettable area of ​​10 μL mixed electrophoresis solution on the surface of the unmodified microcup is 34.191 mm². 2 After treating the microcup surface with different silane coupling agents as described in Examples 1 to 5, the wetting area of ​​the 10 μL mixed electrophoresis solution was increased in all cases. The microcup surface treated with N-dodecyltrimethoxysilane had the largest wetting area of ​​67.635 mm². 2 Therefore, the microcup electronic paper prepared by the modification method of this invention has the characteristics of surface energy modification and has better wetting performance in electrophoretic solutions.

[0062] In addition, by changing the volume concentration of the silane coupling agent in the silane coupling agent solution in step (1) of the above embodiments within the range of 0.1% to 10%, the ultrasonic conditions in step (2) within the range of "ultrasonication at 40 to 100 kHz for 0.5 to 20 min", the ultrasonic conditions in step (3) within the range of "ultrasonication at 40 to 100 kHz for 0.5 to 3 min", and the volume ratio of the solution for soaking the microcup electronic paper to the added water in step (3) within the range of "10:5 to 100, mL:μL", the surface wettability modified microcup electronic paper can also be prepared. After testing with the wettability electrophoresis solution, its performance is similar to that of the modified microcup electronic paper in Examples 1 to 5.

[0063] In summary, this invention discloses a method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper. The method mainly involves immersing the microcup electronic paper in a silane coupling agent solution, ultrasonicating it, adding water, continuing ultrasonication, removing the paper, washing it, and drying it to obtain the surface-modified microcup electronic paper. Due to the technical problems of incomplete wetting during electrophoresis solution filling, resulting in leakage, air bubbles, poor image rendering, and short electronic paper lifespan, the modification method of this invention can solve these problems. Furthermore, this modification method has the advantages of simple process flow, readily available raw materials, and wide application range, and can be applied on a large scale in the production of microcup electronic paper. In addition, the modification method provided by this invention can perform hydrophilic-hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the microcup electronic paper, changing its hydrophilic-hydrophobic effect and significantly improving the wetting ability of the electrophoretic solution during subsequent filling.

[0064] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for modifying the surface wettability of microcup electronic paper, characterized in that, The modification method includes the following steps: (1) Immerse the microcup-shaped electronic paper in a silane coupling agent solution and sonicate it at 40-100 kHz for 0.5-20 min to obtain a solution for immersing the microcup-shaped electronic paper. The silane coupling agent solution is prepared as follows: add the silane coupling agent to anhydrous ethanol and sonicate it to completely dissolve it to prepare a silane coupling agent solution with a volume concentration of 0.1%-10%. (2) After the ultrasound in step (1) is completed, add water to the solution in which the microcup-shaped electronic paper is soaked, and ultrasound at 40-100 kHz for 0.5-3 min; (3) After the ultrasound in step (2) is completed, take out the processed microcup-shaped electronic paper, clean it with anhydrous ethanol and dry it to obtain the surface-modified microcup-shaped electronic paper.

2. The modification method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (1), the material of the microcup-shaped electronic paper is any one of polyester, polyolefin or polyimide.

3. The modification method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (1), the silane coupling agent is any one of 3-aminopropyltriethyloxysilane, 3-(methacryloyloxy)-propyltrimethoxysilane, n-hexyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane or N-dodecyltrimethoxysilane.

4. The modification method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (2), the volume ratio of the solution used to soak the microcup-shaped electronic paper to water is 10:5 to 100, mL:μL.

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