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