Electrochromic Glazing Plasma Wavelength Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glazing technologies, such as 'solar-control' and 'low-emissivity' glazing, fail to effectively regulate thermal energy transmission and light transmission, leading to inefficient heating and insulation issues in buildings, as they either limit heating in summer or enhance insulation but impair light transmission in winter.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical device with an electrochemically active inorganic layer capable of reversibly switching between states by ion insertion and extraction, shifting the plasma wavelength to control near-infrared reflection while maintaining high transparency in the visible range, using a material with a full width at half maximum absorption spectrum of less than 1 micron.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If solar-control glazing with high reflectivity in the wavelength range between 0.8 and 2 μm is used, then thermal regulation performance is improved, but light transmission is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electrochromic layers that can dynamically change their optical properties in response to electrical signals. The electrochromic material transitions between different states of ion insertion and extraction, allowing the glazing to adaptively regulate both thermal energy and visible light transmission based on external conditions, thereby resolving the static trade-off between thermal performance and light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes changes in the plasma wavelength parameter of the electrochromic material through controlled ion insertion and extraction. By modifying the concentration of free charge carriers in the electrochromic layer, the plasma wavelength shifts, which directly controls the reflectivity in the near-infrared range while maintaining visibility in the visible spectrum, thus simultaneously achieving thermal regulation and light transmission.
2Loss of energy
If low-emissivity glazing with high reflection in the mid infrared and far infrared is used, then radiative heat loss prevention is improved, but near infrared transmission control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates multiple electrochromic layers with different optical characteristics positioned at specific locations within the glazing system. Each layer can be independently controlled to optimize its ion insertion state, allowing selective control over different wavelength ranges. This enables the system to simultaneously maintain high reflection in the mid-infrared range for heat loss prevention while providing active control over near-infrared transmission through specific layer modulation.
3Temperature
If ion insertion and extraction in electrochemically active layer is increased to shift plasma wavelength, then near infrared reflection control is improved, but visible range transparency may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a multi-layer electrochromic configuration where only specific layers undergo significant ion insertion and extraction to achieve the desired plasma wavelength shift. By controlling the ion concentration in selected layers rather than uniformly across all layers, the system achieves effective near-infrared reflection control while minimizing the impact on visible transparency, as not all layers are driven to their maximum ionization state.
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 solution allows for controlled energy transmission and thermal regulation without significantly impairing illumination, enabling effective thermal management in buildings while maintaining transparency, and can be applied to various transparent applications like windows and vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
an electrochemically active layer formed on the first electrode coating and located between the first electrode coating and the second electrode coating, the electrochemically active layer being made of an inorganic material capable of reversibly switching between a first state and a second state having different optical and/or energy transmission properties by the insertion and extraction of ions
Implementation Method 2
the material has, at the plasma wavelength λ, a full width at half maximum Δλ of the absorption spectrum equal to or less than 1 micron in the first state and in the second state
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrochemical device (1) having electrically controllable optical and/or energy transmission properties, of the type comprising two electrode coatings (4, 6) and, between them, an electrochemically active layer (6) made of an inorganic material capable of reversibly switching between two states having different optical and/or energy transmission properties by the insertion and extraction of ions. An electrolyte (8) is present between the electrochemically active layer and the second electrode coating. The material of the electrochemically active layer is a material, the insertion and extraction of the ions of which during switching between the two states correspond to a variation in the plasma wavelength λ of the material and in that the material has, at the plasma wavelength λ, a full width at half maximum Δλ of the absorption spectrum equal to or less than 1 micron in the two states.