Electrochromic Device with Self-Encapsulating Electrolyte
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electrochromic devices are rigid, costly, and require complex packaging, limiting their flexibility and customization, as well as being prone to electrolyte leakage under harsh natural conditions.
Innovation Solution
An arbitrarily tailorable electrochromic device is developed, featuring a transparent flexible substrate, electron-conductive layers, an electrochromic layer, an electrolyte solution that self-encapsulates upon exposure to air or moisture, and an ion storage layer, allowing for flexible cutting and mass production while preventing electrolyte leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rigid electrochromic devices are used, then manufacturing precision and reliability are maintained, but flexibility and adaptability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible thin-film encapsulation layers that conform to the flexible substrate, enabling the device to maintain structural integrity and prevent electrolyte leakage while accommodating bending and deformation. This allows the device to achieve flexibility without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite encapsulation structures combining multiple materials with complementary properties, such as barrier layers and flexible adhesive layers, to simultaneously provide mechanical flexibility and effective electrolyte containment, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and leakage prevention.
2Reliability
If complex packaging processes are used to prevent electrolyte leakage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the encapsulation function directly into the device structure by combining the electrolyte-containing layer with encapsulation layers in a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate complex packaging processes while maintaining effective electrolyte leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation layers are designed to automatically seal and protect the electrolyte through their inherent material properties and structural design, without requiring additional external packaging steps or complex sealing processes, thereby simplifying the overall device structure and manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional sealed structures are used, then electrolyte leakage is prevented, but arbitrary shaping and customization are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible and stretchable encapsulation materials that can dynamically adapt to arbitrary shapes and sizes, allowing the device to be customized for different applications without requiring rigid pre-formed sealed structures, thereby enabling shape customization while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes encapsulation materials and processes that can be adjusted in terms of flexibility, thickness, and composition to match different shape requirements, allowing arbitrary shaping and customization without significantly increasing production cost through parameter optimization.
4Adaptability or versatility
If flexible devices are developed, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the flexible device into modular layers that can be independently manufactured and assembled with high precision, allowing each layer to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall device uniformity and manufacturing precision despite the flexible nature of the substrate.
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 enables faster response times, better reliability, and reduced production costs by allowing self-encapsulation and arbitrary shaping, addressing the limitations of traditional devices.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolyte solution with automatically curable in presence of air and/or moisture to achieve a self-encapsulation function
Implementation Method 2
Electrochromism is a special phenomenon of reversible change between a coloring state with low optical transmittance and a bleached state with high optical transmittance. With the insertion or extraction of ions or electrons in organic and/or inorganic electrochromic materials under the action of alternating high-low or positive-negative external electric fields, reversible change of color and transparency in appearance performance will occur.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an arbitrarily tailorable electrochromic device and use thereof, wherein the electrochromic device includes in order of a first transparent flexible substrate, a first transparent electron-conductive layer, an electrochromic layer, an electrolyte solution with automatically curable in presence of air and/or moisture to achieve a self-encapsulation function, an ion storage layer, a second transparent electron-conductive layer and a second transparent flexible substrate. The electrochromic device of the present disclosure is arbitrarily tailorable and can be used in various applications.