Transparent Energy Storage Device with Partial Light Absorbing Cover

Solution Overview

Problem

Current electrochemical energy storage devices face challenges in achieving transparency while maintaining sufficient energy storage efficiency, as either intrinsically transparent materials result in poor energy storage performance or structured opaque materials degrade optical properties with increased thickness.

Innovation Solution

An energy storage device with a transparent substrate and a stack of layers including a current collector, electrode, electrolyte, and second current collector, covered partially with a high light absorbance layer that absorbs light to increase temperature and optimize ionic exchanges, while maintaining transparency by limiting the cover to specific regions and using a decreasing width configuration to reduce light diffusion and diffraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If intrinsically transparent materials are used for energy storage components, then transparency is improved, but energy storage performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple functional layers (transparent substrate, electrochemical energy storage system, light-absorbing cover) that can be independently optimized. The transparent substrate and electrochemical system are segmented from the light-absorbing cover, allowing each component to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the device have different optical properties: the substrate and electrochemical system remain transparent while the cover has high light absorbance. This local differentiation allows the transparent regions to maintain visibility while the absorbing regions enhance energy storage through thermal effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If opaque materials are structured in a grid to provide transparency, then transparency is improved, but optical properties deteriorate with increased thickness

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful thermal effects are extracted and redirected into a beneficial function. Instead of letting light pass through unchanged (which provides no thermal benefit) or blocking it completely (which degrades optics), the patent extracts a portion of the light energy and converts it to heat in the cover, while maintaining transparency in the critical viewing areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of light absorption (which would normally reduce transparency) into a beneficial thermal effect that enhances ionic exchange and energy storage capacity. The light-absorbing cover transforms absorbed light into heat, which accelerates electrochemical reactions without significantly impacting overall device transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Quantity of substance

If a light-absorbing cover is added to enhance energy storage, then energy storage efficiency is improved, but transparency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The light-absorbing cover is applied partially rather than completely. It covers only specific regions of the electrochemical system, allowing other regions to remain transparent. This partial application provides sufficient thermal enhancement for energy storage while preserving overall device transparency for visual applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 enhances energy storage efficiency by increasing temperature and reducing light transmission, maintaining transparency, and minimizing stray light effects, thus improving the optical contrast and energy storage capacity without compromising the substrate's transparency.

Implementation Method 1

at least part of the cover has a coefficient of light absorbance greater than or equal to 80%, preferably greater than 90%

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorbance: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

absorbs light to increase temperature and optimize ionic exchanges

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotothermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

The migration of one or more ions between the two electrodes through the electrolyte makes it possible either to store energy or to deliver it to an external circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon migration: Ion Exchange

Data Source

PatentUS11362387B2Energy storage device

Publication Date: 2022.06.14

AI summary

An energy storage device includes a substrate having a portion that is optically transparent in a predefined range of wavelengths, and at least one electrochemical energy storage system comprising, as from a face of the transparent portion, a stack having successively a first current collector, a first electrode, an electrolyte, a second electrode and a second current collector, the stack being covered partially by a cover characterised in that wherein at least one part of the cover has a coefficient of light absorbance greater than or equal to 80%, and preferably greater than 90%.