Electrochromic Coating Boundary Control With Low-Adhesion Varnish
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrochromic devices face issues with wiping difficulty and accuracy, leading to poor mechanical structure and increased moisture ingress due to seal peeling, which affects device stability and productivity.
Innovation Solution
The electrochromic device employs a varnish layer with a controlled surface tension difference and contact angle to minimize adhesion, allowing for a seamless coating process without wiping, and incorporates a dual adhesive layer for enhanced sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrochromic layer/ion storage layer is strongly bonded to the ITO substrate, then the stability of the electrochromic film is improved, but the wiping difficulty increases and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating a release agent (such as silicone release agent, fluorinated release agent, or surfactant solution) on the ITO substrate before coating the electrochromic layer and ion storage layer. This preliminary treatment creates a release interface that reduces bonding between these layers and the substrate, enabling easy removal while maintaining film stability during operation. The release agent forms a thin intermediate layer that prevents strong adhesion, solving the contradiction between stability and ease of removal.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual wiping is used to remove the electrochromic layer/ion storage layer, then the process is simple, but the wiping accuracy is poor and boundaries are not straight and uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical wiping process with a chemical release mechanism. By pre-coating the ITO substrate with a release agent, the electrochromic layer and ion storage layer are designed to be easily removable without mechanical force. The release agent creates a low-energy surface that prevents strong adhesion, allowing the layers to be peeled off cleanly and accurately without manual wiping, thus achieving both simplicity and high precision.
3Productivity
If the seal is applied directly without wiping, then the process is simplified, but the seal bonds to the electrochromic layer/ion storage layer causing peeling and moisture ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the ITO substrate with a release agent before assembling the device. This ensures that when the seal is applied directly without wiping, it bonds to the release agent layer rather than to the electrochromic layer or ion storage layer. The release agent acts as a sacrificial interface that prevents direct bonding between the seal and the electrochromic layers, eliminating peeling issues and maintaining moisture barrier effectiveness while enabling direct application for higher productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces wiping difficulty, ensures accurate boundary definition, and provides a robust moisture barrier, improving production efficiency and device stability.
Implementation Method 1
a dyne value of the varnish layer minus a surface tension of a slurry of a structure layer in the solid color-changing layer is less than or equal to 5 mN/m
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides an electrochromic device, which comprises a first substrate layer, a first conductive layer, a solid-state color changing layer, a second conductive layer and a second substrate layer which are stacked in sequence. A varnish layer is disposed at an edge region of the first conductive layer and/or an edge region of the second conductive layer. The Dyne value of the varnish layer minus the surface tension of a slurry of a structure layer in the solid-state color changing layer which is in contact with the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer is less than or equal to 5 mN/m. Since the varnish layer is arranged, when the solid-state color changing layer is coated, the slurry of the solid-state color changing layer cannot be attached to the varnish surface. Therefore, wiping is not required, and a number of problems caused by wiping are avoided. Otherwise, the adhesion of the solid-state color changing layer to the varnish surface is reduced. Moreover, the arrangement of the varnish defines the boundary of wiping and ensures the progress of wiping.