Spray-Coatable Electrochromic Compositions for Curved Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrochromic devices are limited to smooth and flat substrates due to material and formation method constraints, making it difficult to apply them to substrates with distorted surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A color-changing polymer composition, ion-conductive composition, and transparent electrode layer composition are developed for a spray-coating process, allowing the formation of electrochromic devices on various substrate materials, including those with curved or distorted surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional electrochromic devices are formed using traditional material deposition methods, then the device structure is precise and functional, but the substrate must be smooth and flat, limiting applicability to distorted surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state and application parameters of the electrochromic materials by formulating them as sprayable solutions or suspensions. This allows the materials to be deposited as aerosols that can conform to distorted surfaces, curvatures, and three-dimensional structures, thereby resolving the contradiction between substrate adaptability and manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs spray coating technology using pneumatic principles to atomize and deposit electrochromic material solutions onto substrates. This pneumatic delivery system enables uniform coating on complex geometries including distorted surfaces and curvatures, achieving both high adaptability and acceptable manufacturing precision
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrochromic materials are applied to distorted surfaces, then substrate versatility is improved, but traditional formation methods cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The spray coating process is designed to be self-aligning and self-leveling, where the aerosolized material automatically conforms to the substrate geometry without requiring precise positioning or complex masking. The solution dries to form uniform films on various substrates including distorted surfaces, simplifying the manufacturing process while expanding substrate versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal spray coating formulation system that can be applied to multiple substrate types (glass, metal, plastic, distorted surfaces) using a single manufacturing process. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for different deposition methods for different substrates, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining high adaptability
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
Enables the manufacturing of electrochromic devices with diverse structures on non-flat substrates, enhancing their applicability and usability in fields like flexible displays.
Implementation Method 1
Electrochromism is a phenomenon by which a reversible color change occurs when an oxidation or reduction reaction is electrochemically caused in an electrode material
Implementation Method 2
an ion-conductive composition... an amount of about 20 to 70 wt % of an ion-conductive material
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a color-changing polymer composition, an ion-conductive composition, and a transparent electrode layer composition for a painting-type spray coating process, and an electrochromic device including the same. The color-changing polymer composition for an electrochromic device includes an amount of about 5 to 30 wt % of a color-changing material, an amount of about 0.01 to 1 wt % of ferrocene, an amount of about 10 to 30 wt % of a polymer matrix, an amount of about 20 to 70 wt % of an ion-conductive material, and an amount of about 1 to 10 wt % of a POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) derivative, based on the total weight of the composition.