Stretchable Electrochromic Electrolyte for Wearable Color-Changing Fabrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrochromic devices lack stretchability and flexibility, making them unsuitable for applications requiring both properties, such as wearable electronic garments, and they often suffer from slow switching times and low contrast ratios.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable electrochromic device is developed using a stretchable conductive substrate with an electrochromic material and a stretchable transparent polymeric electrolyte, comprising thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurea, or polyethylene oxide, along with a salt, which allows for flexible and expandable fibers or fabrics that can change color in response to electrical potential.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional liquid or solid electrolytes are used in electrochromic devices, then the devices can achieve electrochromic functionality, but the devices cannot be stretched or folded making them unsuitable for wearable applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible polymer matrix (such as polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer) to encapsulate the electrolyte, creating a stretchable electrolyte membrane that can be deformed without breaking. This flexible encapsulation allows the electrolyte to maintain its functional integrity while enabling the device to be stretched and folded for wearable applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electrolyte system by combining traditional electrolyte materials (liquid or solid) with a flexible polymer matrix. This composite structure integrates the electrochemical functionality of the electrolyte with the mechanical flexibility of the polymer, achieving both electrochromic performance and stretchability simultaneously.
2Illumination intensity
If ITO is used as the transparent electrode to allow light transmission, then the device achieves transparency, but the device becomes less flexible and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid ITO to flexible transparent conductive polymers or metal meshes with appropriate conductivity and transparency. By selecting materials with different physical properties (flexible yet conductive and transparent), the device achieves both light transmission and flexibility required for wearable applications.
3Stability of the object's composition
If electrochromic devices are made rigid for structural stability, then the devices maintain compositional stability, but the devices cannot be integrated into flexible or stretchable garments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible encapsulation layers and thin-film structures that maintain compositional stability while allowing mechanical deformation. The flexible shell protects the internal components from environmental degradation while permitting stretching and bending, enabling integration into wearable garments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite device structure combining rigid functional layers (electrochromic materials, electrodes) with flexible support layers and encapsulation. This composite architecture provides both structural stability for compositional integrity and flexibility for wearable integration.
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 electrochromic devices to maintain color-changing functionality even when stretched or bent, offering fast switching times and high contrast ratios, making them suitable for flexible and wearable applications.
Implementation Method 1
Electrochromic materials can be organic or inorganic, and reversibly change color when oxidized or reduced in response to an applied electrical potential
Implementation Method 2
a stretchable transparent polymeric electrolyte coating or impregnating the stretchable conductive substrate, the stretchable electrochromic substrate, or a combination thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Stretchable electrochromic devices are disclosed including a stretchable electrochromic substrate; and a stretchable and transparent polymeric electrolyte coating or impregnating the stretchable electrochromic substrate. The stretchable electrochromic devices can find utility in the preparation of wearable electronic garments. Other devices using a stretchable and transparent polymeric electrolyte are disclosed.