Multilayered Electrode with Non-Uniform Metal Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transparent electrodes for electrochromic devices, such as those made of indium tin oxide (ITO), face challenges with resistivity and slow electrochromic speed, making them costly and unsuitable for large-area applications.
Innovation Solution
A multilayered thin film transparent electrode structure is developed, featuring a substrate with a lower oxide layer, a metal layer with varying thickness from edge to center, and an upper oxide layer, where the metal layer's thickness increases from the edge to the center, and can include multiple metal layers with specific area relationships, optimized for improved electrochromism speed and uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform thickness metal layer is used in transparent electrode, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the electrochromic speed and performance uniformity across large area deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The metal layer is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, where the central region has greater thickness than the edge region. This local variation in thickness creates corresponding local variations in electrical resistance, with the center having lower resistance and edges having higher resistance, thereby achieving uniform electrochromic performance across the entire large-area electrode
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the metal layer is changed from a constant uniform value to a spatially varying value. By controlling the thickness parameter to increase from edges to center, the electrical resistance distribution is adjusted to compensate for the larger current path length in central regions, achieving uniform electrochromic speed across the electrode area
2Reliability
If ITO transparent electrode is used, then the electrode satisfies performance requirements in most electrical products, but the resistivity and slow electrochromic speed deteriorate large area performance
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent electrode is constructed as a composite structure combining an oxide layer and a metal layer. The oxide layer provides transparency and basic electrical properties, while the metal layer with optimized non-uniform thickness provides enhanced electrical conductivity. This composite structure achieves both low resistivity and high electrochromic speed while maintaining transparency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from considering only the material composition to incorporating the dimensional aspect of thickness distribution. By introducing spatial variation in the thickness dimension of the metal layer, the electrical resistance is optimized across different regions, enabling fast electrochromic response in large-area applications
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 structure reduces resistivity and enhances electrochromism speed across the electrode, achieving faster and more uniform electrochromic reactions, particularly beneficial for large-area electrochromic devices.
Implementation Method 1
the ITO transparent electrode has disadvantages such as a resistivity by a transparent electrode layer
Implementation Method 2
a slow electrochromic speed due to slow diffusion speed of metal ions into an electrochromic material layer
Implementation Method 3
a slow electrochromic speed due to slow diffusion speed of metal ions into an electrochromic material layer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a multilayered thin film transparent electrode for an electrochromic device including: a substrate; a lower oxide layer located on the substrate; a metal layer located on the lower oxide layer; and an upper oxide layer located on the metal layer, and a thickness of a center portion of the metal layer is larger than a thickness of an edge.