Free-Standing Layered Photothermal Structure for Fast Light Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing structure bodies for light absorption and heat conversion have large thickness and weight, leading to slow heating due to light absorption, and there is a desire for further acceleration of this process.
Innovation Solution
A structure body is formed by depositing a light-absorbing layer and dielectric layer on a polymer substrate, followed by removing the substrate, resulting in a free-standing structure with a three-dimensionally continuous configuration that enhances plasmonic absorption and trapping of light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the thickness of the structure body is increased to improve light absorbance, then the absorbance is improved, but the weight increases and heating speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of light-absorbing materials (such as metal nanoparticles with plasmonic properties) and dielectric materials arranged in a layered configuration. This composite structure enables high light absorbance through plasmonic resonance and multiple scattering effects while maintaining a thin profile, thus achieving high absorbance without increasing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different optical properties within the thin structure. The light-absorbing material is strategically positioned in layers or patterns to maximize light trapping and conversion efficiency at specific locations, allowing the entire structure to achieve high overall absorbance without requiring uniform thickness throughout.
2Quantity of substance
If the thickness of the structure body is increased to improve light absorbance, then the absorbance is improved, but the heating speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of light-absorbing and dielectric layers creates multiple interfaces that scatter and trap light, increasing the effective optical path length within the thin structure. This enhances light absorption efficiency and converts more light energy into heat per unit time, thereby maintaining fast heating speed while achieving high absorbance in a thin configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
By concentrating light-absorbing materials in specific layered regions, the structure maximizes photothermal conversion efficiency at those locations. The localized high absorption regions generate heat rapidly, ensuring fast overall heating performance without requiring the entire structure to be thick.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a substrate is used to support the layered structure, then the structural stability is improved, but the light absorption efficiency decreases due to substrate interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the substrate from the final structure, creating a free-standing thin-film configuration. The layered light-absorbing and dielectric structure is designed to be self-supported, eliminating substrate interference with light absorption while maintaining structural integrity through the engineered layering and material properties of the thin film itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible thin-film technology where the layered light-absorbing and dielectric structure forms a self-supported membrane or film. This thin-film configuration eliminates the need for a rigid substrate, allowing light to interact with the active layers from both sides and maximizing absorption efficiency while the film's own structural design provides necessary stability.
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 structure body achieves accelerated heating due to light absorption with increased absorbance and high photothermal conversion efficiency, even with a small amount of material, and maintains flexibility for easy handling.
Implementation Method 1
a light-absorbing material and a dielectric material are formed on a surface of a nonwoven fabric or a porous membrane
Implementation Method 2
the structure body serves as a photothermal conversion material that absorbs visible light and converts the visible light into heat
Implementation Method 3
Metal nanoparticles plasmonically absorb light and convert the light into heat
Data Source
AI summary
A structure body includes a free-standing structure including a fibrous member and/or a shell. The fibrous member and/or a shell are each a layered body formed of at least one light-absorbing layer and at least one dielectric layer. The light-absorbing layer includes a light-absorbing material that has an absorption in a visible light region, and the dielectric layer includes a dielectric material. The fibrous member and/or the shell have a three-dimensionally continuous configuration.