Electrochromic Device Electrode Protection Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrodes in existing electrochromic devices are prone to damage or detachment due to contact with electrolytes, leading to instability and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a lower protection layer between the electrolyte and the lower electrode, which can be a porous or membrane structure made of inorganic, organic, or polymer materials, to prevent direct contact and facilitate ion exchange, and using graphene as a transparent electrode material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrodes are placed in direct contact with electrolytes to enable electrochromic function, then the electrochromic device can achieve coloring and decoloring, but the electrodes are damaged or detached from substrates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode stabilityVSAvoidelectrode damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protection layer is introduced as an intermediary between the electrode and the electrolyte layer. This protection layer prevents direct contact between the electrode and electrolyte, thereby preventing electrode damage and detachment while still allowing the electrochromic device to function through ion transport through the protection layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a protection layer is added between the electrode and electrolyte to prevent damage, then electrode integrity is maintained, but ion transport between electrode and electrolyte is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode integrityVSAvoidion transport efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protection layer is designed with a porous structure that allows ions to transport through it while still providing physical protection to the electrode. The porous structure enables ion permeation necessary for electrochromic function while maintaining the protective barrier against electrode damage and detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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

The solution effectively prevents electrode damage and detachment, ensuring a stable and reliable operation of the electrochromic device through the use of a protective layer that allows for ion mobility while maintaining electrode integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a lower protection layer provided between the lower electrode and the electrolyte layer and configured to prohibit the lower electrode and the electrolyte layer from contacting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier:

Implementation Method 2

the lower protection layer may include a porous or membrane structure through which charges are movable between the electrolyte and the lower electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon transport:

Implementation Method 3

an electrochromic device capable of reversibly decolorizing and coloring by an oxidation-reduction reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation-reduction reaction: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 4

an electrochromic device which adopts graphene as a transparent electrode material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGraphene conductivity: Graphene

Data Source

PatentUS9897887B2Electrochromic device capable of preventing damage of electrode

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST

AI summary

Provided is an electrochromic device, which may prevent a damage of an electrode and include a lower substrate and an upper substrate configured to face each other with an electrolyte layer therebetween, an upper electrode provided between the electrolyte layer and the upper substrate, a lower electrode provided between the electrolyte layer and the lower substrate, an upper ion reactive layer provided between the upper electrode and the electrolyte layer, and a lower protection layer provided between the lower electrode and the electrolyte layer and configured to prohibit the lower electrode and the electrolyte layer from contacting.