Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras

A Conducting Electrochromic Composite of Metallic Nanowires And Multi-Coloured Thermochromic Materials

Categories for this Invention

Advance Material & Manufacturing | Chemistry & Chemical Analysis

Industry: Electronics Smart Devices, Manufacturing & Coatings, Textile Industry

Applications: Customizable Surfaces, Smart Windows & Glass, Consumer Electronics, Architectural Coatings, Display Technology

Market: The global Electrochromic Materials Market size is forecast to reach $1,910.3 million by 2025, after growing at a CAGR of 6.9% during 2020-2025.

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Problem Statement

  • Current electrochromic materials, particularly metal oxides and conducting polymers, involve complex deposition processes and limited flexibility, making it costly to manufacture and inflexible for various uses.
  • Existing devices lack diverse color variations, restricting their adaptability to meet the demands for a broad spectrum of colors in electrochromic applications.
  • Conventional electrochromic devices need a multi-layered structure & specific electrode layers, which inherently limit flexibility and ease of production, leading to complex design & fabrication.
  • Hence, there is a need for a cost-effective, easy to manufacture an electrochromic composite which is flexible & made of a conducting material.

Technology

  • The present patent invention discloses a conducting electrochromic composite comprising of metallic (silver) nanowires, thermochromic material, and optionally a conducting polymer. FIG 1 depicts the drop cast patterns of the thermochromic nanowire composite ink in different colours. Colour changes to white with voltage supply & returns to its original colour once voltage is removed.

Key Features / Value Proposition

  • The composite is a flexible conducting material, relatively easy to manufacture and of low-cost, easy to cast & drop.
  • The conducting electrochromic composite comprises 4-6 wt% of metallic nanowires, 2-6 wt% of thermochromic material selected from a material that reversibly changes its colour with temperature, and optionally 10-15 vol% of conducting polymer.
  • The final material is prepared in a dispersion form, for easy application over the substrate using any conventional solution-based deposition techniques.
  • A single layer deposition is sufficient, without needing any complex multi-step deposition processes currently in use to fabricate electrochromic devices.
  • Dispersion has very low post-deposition annealing requirements (100 °C for 1 h).
  • Support multiple colors and can be controlled by the applied voltage.

Questions about this Technology?

Contact For Licensing

sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in

Research Lab

Prof. Parasuraman Swaminathan

Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Engg

Prof. Debdutta Ray

Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Intellectual Property

  • IITM IDF No: 2032
  • IP No: 401967 (Granted)
  • PCT: PCT/IN2021/050569

Technology Readiness Level

TRL – 4

Technology validation in Lab

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