Bicolor twistable hollow display microcell, preparation method and display panel

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of two-color twistable hollow display microstructures, it is related to electronic paper display field, microstructure includes: hollow spherical polymer, first polymer chain grafted to the first half of the hollow spherical polymer, second polymer chain grafted to the second half of the hollow spherical polymer;The charge polarity of the first polymer chain and the second polymer chain is opposite and color is different.In addition, the application also discloses a kind of two-color twistable hollow display microstructure manufacturing method and a kind of two-color twistable hollow display panel.The application is based on the structural design of two-color twistable hollow sphere, grafting two kinds of particles with different charge properties on the surface of single hollow microsphere, the ability of rapid flipping and color transformation under electric field stimulation, and the hollow design of microsphere reduces mass and enhances its dynamic response speed in electric field.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic paper displays, and particularly to a dual-color rotatable hollow display micro-unit, its preparation method, and a display panel. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of modern electronic display technology, electronic paper, as a low-power display technology, is widely used in wearable devices, electronic tags, e-books, and other applications due to its near-paper visual experience and extremely low power consumption. However, traditional electronic paper technologies, such as electronic ink displays, face some limitations, including low refresh rates, long response times, and limited resolution. These limitations have slowed down the further popularization and expansion of electronic paper technology.

[0003] To address these issues, researchers have explored various methods, including liquid crystal displays and electrophoresis. While these technologies have made some progress in improving response speed and display quality, they still fall short of fully meeting the demands for low power consumption and high dynamic range displays. In other words, existing electronic paper technologies still have room for improvement in response speed and power consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of existing technologies, the technical problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a dual-color rotatable hollow display microunit and its preparation method, aiming to solve the problems of slow response speed, low resolution, and limited environmental adaptability in traditional electronic paper technology. By grafting particles with different charges onto the surface of the hollow microspheres, rapid flipping and color changing under the action of an electric field are achieved. Furthermore, the lightweight design of the hollow spheres further optimizes its dynamic response capability in an electric field, and the corresponding lightweight design also reduces driving energy consumption, opening up new possibilities for the development of electronic paper technology.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect of the present invention, a dual-color, rotatable, hollow display microstructure is provided, the microstructure comprising:

[0006] A hollow spherical polymer, a first polymer chain grafted onto a first half of the hollow spherical polymer, and a second polymer chain grafted onto a second half of the hollow spherical polymer; the first polymer chain and the second polymer chain have opposite charge polarities and different colors.

[0007] Furthermore, the hollow spherical polymer comprises one or more of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polylactic acid, and is constructed into a spherical shape.

[0008] Based on the first aspect of the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure, a second aspect of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure, the method comprising:

[0009] Step S1: Select a hollow spherical polymer and select a first aqueous solution with a density matching that of the hollow spherical polymer so that the hollow spherical polymer floats on the surface of the first aqueous solution; wherein, the portion of the hollow spherical polymer exposed below the surface of the first aqueous solution is the first half, and the portion of the hollow spherical polymer above the surface of the first aqueous solution is the second half.

[0010] Step S2: Graft a first hydrophilic polymer chain onto the first half of the hollow spherical polymer in a floating state and insert cationic groups to make the first half hydrophilic and positively charged.

[0011] Step S3: Place the hollow spherical polymer treated in step S2 into the second oil phase solution, with the first half floating on the surface of the second oil phase solution; graft a second polymer chain with anionic groups onto the second half immersed in the second oil phase solution, so that the second half is negatively charged and forms a two-color twistable hollow display microstructure.

[0012] In one specific embodiment, step S1 includes:

[0013] First, determine the first aqueous solution, and then select a material of appropriate density based on the first aqueous solution to manufacture the hollow spherical polymer, so as to ensure that the hollow spherical polymer can float on the surface of the aqueous solution.

[0014] In another specific embodiment, step S1 includes:

[0015] First, the hollow spherical polymer is determined. Then, the density of the first aqueous solution is selected and adjusted according to the hollow spherical polymer to ensure that the hollow spherical polymer can float on the surface of the aqueous solution.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, the density of the hollow spherical polymer is adjusted by internal filling.

[0017] A third aspect of the present invention provides a dual-color rotatable hollow display panel, comprising:

[0018] Upper substrate; a first driving electrode is disposed on the upper substrate;

[0019] A lower substrate; a second driving electrode is disposed on the lower substrate;

[0020] A cavity array disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;

[0021] The dispersant filling the cavity array and the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure provided in the first aspect; the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure is dispersed in the dispersant.

[0022] Furthermore, the inner wall of the cavity array is provided with a non-conductive coating to reduce surface roughness.

[0023] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: Based on the structural design of a two-color rotatable hollow sphere, the present invention grafts two kinds of particles with different charge properties onto the surface of a single hollow microsphere, which has the ability to quickly flip and change color under electric field stimulation. The hollow design of the microsphere reduces its mass and enhances its dynamic response speed in the electric field. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure under the action of an electric field in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dual-color rotatable hollow display panel based on a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The embodiments of this patent are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this patent, and should not be construed as limiting this patent.

[0028] In the description of this patent, it should be understood that the terms “center,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer,” etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this patent and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this patent.

[0029] In the description of this patent, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "setting" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection or setting, a detachable connection or setting, or an integral connection or setting. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this patent according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] like Figures 1-2As shown, the first embodiment of the present invention provides a dual-color twistable hollow display microstructure, the microstructure comprising:

[0031] A hollow spherical polymer, a first polymer chain grafted onto a first half of the hollow spherical polymer, and a second polymer chain grafted onto a second half of the hollow spherical polymer; the first polymer chain and the second polymer chain have opposite charge polarities and different colors.

[0032] Furthermore, the hollow spherical polymer comprises one or more of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polylactic acid, and is constructed into a spherical shape.

[0033] The key component of this invention is a dual-color, rotatable hollow sphere. These spheres have a hollow structure made of a lightweight material (such as a polymer or silicon-based material), reducing the sphere's mass and improving its response speed in an electric field. The particles grafted onto the sphere surface consist of two substances with different electrical properties, carrying positive and negative charges respectively. The diameter of these particles is controlled between 100 nm and 10 μm to ensure sufficient surface coverage without adding excessive mass. In the fabrication process, basic hollow microspheres are first manufactured. Subsequently, charged particles are fixed to the upper and lower halves of the microspheres, respectively. This step needs to be performed under high-precision electric field control to ensure that the particles are uniformly and firmly attached to the predetermined positions. During the grafting process, controlling the particle density and distribution is crucial, as this directly affects the uniformity of the display effect and the response time.

[0034] To accommodate the encapsulation of individual microspheres and optimize the overall performance of the display unit, this invention designs a microcavity array system. Each cavity has a standard size of nμm × nμm × nμm (n = 0.1μm-100μm) and can accommodate a sphere of varying diameters. The cavity design allows for adjustments to the length and width to accommodate different numbers of microspheres, thereby expanding the groove size or increasing the number of microspheres within the groove as needed to meet varying display density requirements. The selection and design of the cavity materials must ensure a uniform electric field distribution that does not interfere with the dynamic response of the microspheres. Furthermore, the surface treatment of the cavity must ensure that the microspheres can freely rotate under the influence of the electric field without being affected by friction or electrostatic forces. To this end, a special non-conductive coating is used on the inner wall of the cavity to reduce surface roughness, increase isolation between microspheres, and prevent mutual interference during rotation.

[0035] In electronic paper display systems, microspheres are driven by an electric field, rapidly flipping their upper and lower hemispheres according to the direction and intensity of the electric field, thus changing the displayed color. Adjusting electric field parameters (such as voltage, frequency, and waveform) enhances the display effect.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1Positively charged colored particles 1 are provided, located in the upper half 3 of a hollow sphere (hollow spherical polymer). These positively charged particles are used to achieve rapid rotation of the sphere under the influence of an electric field. Because these particles are colored, they not only function in response to the electric field but also participate in the color changes displayed, showing a specific color when the sphere rotates to a specific orientation. Negatively charged colored particles 2 are located in the lower half 4 of the hollow sphere (hollow spherical polymer). These negatively charged particles are opposite to the positively charged particles, allowing the sphere to rotate under opposite electric fields, displaying different colors. Similarly, these particles are also colored and participate in the color display. The upper hemisphere 3 of the hollow sphere constitutes the upper region of the sphere and is mainly used to attach the positively charged colored particles. The hollow structure helps reduce the mass of the sphere and improves the rotation response speed and efficiency. The lower hemisphere 4 of the hollow sphere, corresponding to the upper hemisphere, is the lower region of the sphere and is mainly used to fix the negatively charged colored particles. The hollow design is also used to optimize dynamic responsiveness.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a torsion sphere under the influence of an electric field. This process demonstrates how the torsion sphere changes color under the control of electrodes. The following is a detailed explanation of each step:

[0038] Initially, positively charged particle 1 is located in the upper half of the hollow sphere, near the upper electrode 5, while negatively charged particle 2 is located in the lower half, near the lower electrode 7. This configuration represents a static display state in the absence of an external electric field or in a balanced electric field. When an electric field is applied, the hollow sphere begins to twist according to the direction of the electric field. As shown in the figure, with the action of the electric field, the particles in the dual-color twistable hollow display microstructure (hereinafter referred to as: twisted sphere) 6 begin to move towards opposite electrodes according to their respective charge properties (positive or negative). Positively charged particles within the twisted sphere are attracted downwards by the lower electrode, while negatively charged particles are attracted upwards by the upper electrode. This movement of particles causes a rearrangement of particles within the sphere. With the continued action of the electric field, the twisted sphere eventually reaches a state of complete twisting, where the positively charged particles originally located in the upper half have completely moved to the lower half, while the negatively charged particles originally located in the lower half have moved to the upper half. This twisting changes the color display of the sphere; due to the colored properties of the particles, the displayed color changes with the position of the particles. After the electric field is removed, the sphere remains stationary, ready to respond to the next electric field application. This allows for rapid and precise color changes controlled by the electric field. This technology is particularly suitable for electronic paper or other electronic display devices that require rapid display updates and high resolution.

[0039] It is worth mentioning that in this invention, the first half of the hollow spherical polymer is grafted with cationic groups, and the second half is grafted with anionic groups. In practical applications, cationic and anionic groups are interchangeable, and the corresponding applications are equivalent substitutions, which also fall within the protection scope of this invention.

[0040] In a second embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure is provided, the method comprising:

[0041] Step S1: Select a hollow spherical polymer and select a first aqueous solution with a density matching that of the hollow spherical polymer so that the hollow spherical polymer floats on the surface of the first aqueous solution; wherein, the portion of the hollow spherical polymer exposed below the surface of the first aqueous solution is the first half, and the portion of the hollow spherical polymer above the surface of the first aqueous solution is the second half.

[0042] Step S2: Graft a first hydrophilic polymer chain onto the first half of the hollow spherical polymer in a floating state and insert cationic groups to make the first half hydrophilic and positively charged.

[0043] Step S3: Place the hollow spherical polymer treated in step S2 into the second oil phase solution, with the first half floating on the surface of the second oil phase solution; graft a second polymer chain with anionic groups onto the second half immersed in the second oil phase solution, so that the second half is negatively charged and forms a two-color twistable hollow display microstructure.

[0044] Typically, the densities of the hollow spherical polymer and the first aqueous solution need to be compatible. The materials of both can be determined simultaneously, or one can be determined first, and then the other can be determined based on the determined one.

[0045] Typically, step S1 may include:

[0046] First, determine the first aqueous solution, and then select a material of appropriate density based on the first aqueous solution to manufacture the hollow spherical polymer, so as to ensure that the hollow spherical polymer can float on the surface of the aqueous solution.

[0047] Typically, step S1 may include:

[0048] First, the hollow spherical polymer is determined. Then, the density of the first aqueous solution is selected and adjusted according to the hollow spherical polymer to ensure that the hollow spherical polymer can float on the surface of the aqueous solution.

[0049] Furthermore, the hollow spherical polymer generally does not fill the internal cavity with material, but if necessary, the internal cavity can be filled with material to adjust the density; optionally, the density of the hollow spherical polymer can be adjusted by internal filling.

[0050] like Figure 3 As shown, in the third embodiment of the present invention, a dual-color rotatable hollow display panel is provided, comprising:

[0051] Upper substrate 9; a first driving electrode is disposed on the upper substrate;

[0052] Lower substrate 10; a second driving electrode is disposed on the lower substrate;

[0053] Cavity array 8 is disposed between the upper substrate 9 and the lower substrate 10;

[0054] The dispersant filled in the cavity array 8 and the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure 6 provided in the first embodiment; the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure 6 is dispersed in the dispersant.

[0055] In this embodiment, the inner wall of the cavity array is provided with a non-conductive coating to reduce surface roughness.

[0056] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations based on the concept of the present invention without creative effort. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the concept of the present invention through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation on the basis of existing technology should be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure, characterized in that, The method is used to manufacture a dual-color, rotatable hollow display microstructure, the microstructure comprising: a hollow spherical polymer, a first polymer chain grafted onto a first half of the hollow spherical polymer, and a second polymer chain grafted onto a second half of the hollow spherical polymer; the first polymer chain and the second polymer chain have opposite charge polarities and different colors; the method includes: Step S1: Select a hollow spherical polymer and select a first aqueous solution with a density matching that of the hollow spherical polymer so that the hollow spherical polymer floats on the surface of the first aqueous solution; wherein, the portion of the hollow spherical polymer exposed below the surface of the first aqueous solution is the first half, and the portion of the hollow spherical polymer above the surface of the first aqueous solution is the second half. Step S2: Graft a first hydrophilic polymer chain onto the first half of the hollow spherical polymer in a floating state and insert cationic groups to make the first half hydrophilic and positively charged. Step S3: Place the hollow spherical polymer treated in step S2 into the second oil phase solution, with the first half floating on the surface of the second oil phase solution; graft a second polymer chain with anionic groups onto the second half immersed in the second oil phase solution, so that the second half is negatively charged and forms a two-color twistable hollow display microstructure.

2. The manufacturing method of a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow spherical polymer comprises one or more of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polylactic acid, and is constructed into a spherical shape.

3. The manufacturing method of a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Step S1 includes: First, determine the first aqueous solution, and then select a material of appropriate density based on the first aqueous solution to manufacture the hollow spherical polymer, so as to ensure that the hollow spherical polymer can float on the surface of the aqueous solution.

4. The manufacturing method of a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Step S1 includes: First, the hollow spherical polymer is determined. Then, the density of the first aqueous solution is selected and adjusted according to the hollow spherical polymer to ensure that the hollow spherical polymer can float on the surface of the aqueous solution.

5. The manufacturing method of a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The density of the hollow spherical polymer is adjusted by internal filling.

6. The method for manufacturing a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The microstructure is also used to manufacture a dual-color, rotatable, hollow display panel, the display panel comprising: Upper substrate; a first driving electrode is disposed on the upper substrate; A lower substrate; a second driving electrode is disposed on the lower substrate; A cavity array disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate; The dispersant and the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure are filled within the cavity array; the dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure is dispersed in the dispersant.

7. The manufacturing method of a dual-color rotatable hollow display microstructure as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The inner wall of the cavity array is coated with a non-conductive coating to reduce surface roughness.

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