Patent Application
20160026054
The present invention relates to a light control method for light control element. More specifically, the present invention relates to a light control method for a light control element such as a display device, a light control filter that controls amount of light irradiated from outside, an anti-glare mirror, and the like, in which light can be controlled by including electrochromic material to vary light property thereof.
An element that controls amount of light transmission for a display device, a light control filter, and the like, is sold in a market.
A device for displaying information (a display device) such as a television, a monitor for a personal computer, and a display for mobile phone is one of essential devices in recent information society. A light control filter that controls amount of light irradiated from outside, an anti-glare mirror, and the like have similar effect to a curtain being capable of controlling light irradiated from outside in a space of house, car, airplane, etc. Thus, they are very useful in life.
A display type of a display device can be generally divided into a reflection type, a transmission type, and a light emission type. A person who manufactures a display device generally selects a preferable display type for manufacturing a display device by assuming an environment of usage for a display device.
Recently, portability of a display device has been enhanced by miniaturizing and thinning a display device, so that a display device has been often used in an environment of different brightness levels and demands of users for a display device have been also diversified. As a mode for a display device, for example, a mirror surface state of a display screen as well as a bright state and a dark state has been demanded. This is the same as a light control filter, and the like.
As a related technology, for example, an electrochromic mirror in which a mirror layer is formed on one substrate of a pair of substrates is disclosed in a patent document 1 described below.
Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-500225
However, there is a problem about a display device disclosed in the patent document 1 that a mirror layer is fixed, a mirror surface of an electrochromic display element is merely changed, usage of a display device is not considered, and even if considered, usage of display device is limited to only a reflection type. Furthermore, in the display device, multicolor displaying is not considered at all.
Thus, in consideration of the above-described problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light control method for a light control element that can be used for transmission type, that has a high-quality mirror surface state for high contrast ratio and that can be capable of multicolor displaying.
A light control method for a lighting control element of one aspect according to the present invention comprises a pair of substrates, a pair of electrodes which are formed on opposed surfaces of the pair of substrates, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and including an electrochromic material containing silver and a mediator; the applied voltage to be applied between the pair of electrodes is changed in one light control period.
Therefore, in the present invention, provided are a light control method for a light control element that can be used for transmission type, that has a high-quality mirror surface state for high contrast ratio and that can be capable of multicolor displaying.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be accomplished with different embodiments and is not limited to embodiments described below.
The pair of substrates 2, 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention is used for the electrolyte layer 4 being maintained and sandwiched therebetween. At least one of the pair of substrates 2, 3 may be transparent. When both the substrates 2, 3 are transparent, a display device for a transmission type can be realized. In the present embodiment, a case in which both the pair of substrates 2, 3 are transparent is used. Moreover, material for the substrates 2, 3 is not limited as far as the substrates 2, 3 have useful hardness and chemical stability, and maintain a material layer. Glass, plastics, metal, semiconductor, etc. may be employed. Glass or plastics may be used as a transparent substrate.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, electrodes 21, 31 are formed on opposing surfaces (inner surfaces) of each of the pair of substrates 2, 3. The electrodes 21, 31 are used for applying a voltage to the material layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates 2, 3. As material of the electrodes 21, 31, it is not limited as far as electric conductivity is preferably maintained. Not specifically defined, when substrate is transparent, for example, electrode may be at least one of ITO, IZO, SnO2, ZnO, and the like.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, one of the electrodes 21, 31 is preferably a particle-modified electrode on which relatively large depressions and protrusions are formed, the particle-modified electrode having transparency and conductivity. The other of the electrodes 21, 31 is preferably a smooth electrode. Herein, the particle-modified electrode means an electrode in which a particle is fixed to a surface thereof and relatively large depressions and protrusions having nanometer-scale order is formed thereon. Size of depressions and protrusions on the particle-modified electrode is not limited. Difference of elevation of depressions and protrusions (difference of maximum height and minimum height thereof) is preferably 50 nm or more and 500 nm or less, and more preferably 100 nm or more and 500 nm or less. For example, this can be accomplished by particles being arranged and fixed thereto, the particles of which size being preferably 50 nm or more and 500 nm or less, and being more preferably 100 nm or more and 500 nm or less. Not specifically defined, examples of material for the particles include ITO, IZO, titanium oxide, NiO, etc. Material for the particles is preferably ITO or IZO, and more preferably ITO because conductivity is completely obtained. No depressions and protrusions are formed on the smooth electrode. Even though depressions and protrusions exist on the smooth electrode, size thereof is under nanometer-scale order. Not specifically defined, difference of elevation thereof is preferably 20 nm or less, more preferably 10 nm or less, still more preferably 5 nm or less. As material for the smooth electrode, material similar to the particle-modified electrode may be employed.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, surface roughness (Ra) of the particle-modified electrode measured of stylus type is preferably 100 nm or more and 400 nm or less, more preferably 50 nm or more and 400 nm or less. By the surface roughness being maintained within these ranges, a dark state described later can be realized. Surface roughness of the smooth electrode is preferably under the above-mentioned ranges. The surface roughness (Ra) of the smooth electrode measured of stylus type is specifically 20 nm or less, preferably 10 nm or less and more preferably 5 nm or less. By the surface roughness being maintained within these ranges, a mirror state described later can be realized.
Electrodes 21, 31 according to the present embodiment may be formed on the substrates 2, 3, the electrodes 21, 31 may be a form that matches a pattern such as a character to be displayed, and the electrodes 21, 31 may be formed to align an electrode pattern on a plurality of substrates, the electrode pattern being divided into each of a plurality of regions with same size. When the electrode pattern is divided into each of the plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions becomes a pixel, and each of the pixels is controlled for display, thereby display being obtained with complex form.
Distance between the electrodes 21, 31 is not limited as far as silver is sufficiently deposited as a fine particle in electrochromic material described later and an electric field that disappears is applied. For example, the distance therebetween is preferably 1 micrometer or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 1 micrometer or more and 1 mm or less.
The electrodes 21, 31 according to the present embodiment are connected to a power supply via wirings that have their own conductivities. By modifying voltage which is supplied by the power supply, applying a voltage or applying no voltage to the material layer can be controlled. Then the light control method of this embodiment can be realized.
An electrolyte layer 4 according to the present embodiment includes electrolyte as supporting salt, and also includes electrochromic material and mediator, the electrochromic material containing silver. Moreover, the electrolyte layer 4 according to the present embodiment also includes a solvent for maintaining the electrochromic material containing silver ion, and the mediator.
Electrolyte in the electrolyte layer 4 according to the present embodiment facilitates oxidation-reduction reactions of the electrochromic material. For example, the electrolyte is preferably supporting salt, and preferably includes bromide ion. Examples thereof include LiBr, KBr, NaBr, tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr), etc. Not specifically defined, concentration of the electrolyte is about five times as much as that of the electrochromic material by molar concentration. Specifically, concentration of the electrolyte is three to six times as much as that of the electrochromic material. For example, the concentration of the electrolyte preferably is 3 mM or more and 6 M or less, more preferably 5 mM or more and 5 M or less, more preferably 6 mM or more and 3 M or less, more preferably 15 mM or more and 600 mM or less, more preferably 25 mM or more and 500 mM or less, and more preferably 30 mM or more and 300 mM or less.
A solvent according to the present embodiment is not limited as far as electrochromic material 41, electrochemical light emission material and electrolyte are stably maintained. For example, the solvent is a polar solvent such as water or a non-polar organic solvent. Not specifically defined, the solvent may be DMSO.
An electrochromic material according to the present embodiment causes oxidation-reduction reactions by applying direct current voltage and is preferably salt that includes silver ion. Fine silver particle is deposited or disappeared by the oxidation-reduction reactions of the electrochromic material, thereby generating change of color to perform a display. Not specifically defined, examples of the electrochromic material containing silver include AgNO3, AgCIO4, AgBr, etc. Concentration of the electrochromic material is not limited as far as the above-mentioned function is accomplished. The concentration of the electrochromic material depends on types of material and may be preferably adjusted. The concentration thereof is preferably 5 M or less, more preferably 1 mM or more and 1 M or less, and still more preferably 5 mM or more and 100 mM or less.
A mediator according to the present embodiment is material being capable of carrying out oxidation-reduction reactions in which electrochemical energy of the mediator is lower than that of silver. Color disappearing reaction due to oxidation can be assisted by oxidant of the mediator receiving electrons from silver and giving electrons to silver at all times. The mediator is not limited as far as the above-mentioned function is accomplished. For example, the mediator is preferably salt of copper (II) ion. More specifically, examples of the mediator include CuCl2, CuSO4, and CuBr2. Concentration of the mediator is not limited as far as the above-mentioned function is accomplished. The concentration of the mediator depends on types of material and may be preferably adjusted. The concentration thereof is preferably 5 mM or more and 20 mM or less, and more preferably 15 mM or less. The concentration of 20 mM or less prevents excessive coloring. A ratio of silver ion concentration to copper (II) ion concentration is not limited. However, when silver ion concentration is 10, copper (II) ion concentration is preferably 1 or more and 3 or less.
In the present embodiment, besides the above-mentioned condition, a thickening agent may be added. Memory property of an electrochromic element can be enhanced by adding the thickening agent. Not specifically defined, example of the thickening agent is polyvinyl alcohol. Not specifically defined, concentration of the thickening agent is preferably 5 wt % or more and 20 wt % or less with respect to total amount of the electrolyte layer 4.
Incidentally, in the light control method for the display device according to the present embodiment (hereafter, referred to “the present light control method”), the voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes of the display device. In one light control period, the applied voltage is constant voltage, the other light control period, the applied voltage is modified. Here, “light control period” means a period for carrying out a light control state (in this embodiment, it means a displaying state), specifically, it means a period for displaying a static image. Incidentally, in the case for displaying a video, since the video is composed a number of static images in series, each period for displaying each static image is interpreted as the light control period. By adopting the voltage application, the light control method according to the present embodiment can carry out the transparent state, the dark state, and the mirror state. Further, the present light control method can carry out the color state of red or blue, etc.
First, the present light control method carries out the dark state, the mirror state or the transparent state, in each light control period by applying a constant voltage or cancelling applying voltage.
In the present display device, when voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes, silver ion in the electrochromic material is reduced and silver is deposited on the electrode. Further, when the voltage is canceled, the silver becomes silver ion and dissolves in the electrochromic material. In this case, when silver is deposited on the flat electrode, the state will be the mirror state. And when silver is deposited on the particle-modified electrode, the state will be the dark state. In this case, for an observer, the substrate which the flat electrode is formed is front side, and the substrate which the uneven electrode is formed is rear side. The magnitude of direct current voltage is adjustable by the distance between the pair of substrates or the distance between the pair of electrodes. Specifically, the range of electric field from 1.0×103 V/m to 1.0×105 V/m (absolute value) is desirable, and the range of field from 1.0×103 V/m to 1.0×104 V/m (absolute value) is more desirable.
Further, the present light control method, the applied voltage between the pair of substrates is modified in one light control period. More specifically, when the depositioned silver particles on a flat electrode is the side to realize the mirror state, the value of the applied voltage in stepwise light control period unit particle size of the silver to be precipitated by modifying the different causes, not the display state only the mirror state, it is possible to realize a blue state, the colored state, such as a red state. There is also unclear part principle the colored state appears, the plasmon absorption wavelength range by the particle size of the silver is adjusted is limited, color changes from localized surface plasmons, it will have a specific color only I believed. In addition the light control method, even when varying the applied voltage in the light control period, by modifying the fact and its application time is made different from that in the amount of other dimming period of the change, and dimming the varied particle size of the silver to be deposited on the electrode in each period, it is possible to vary the colors to be displayed. Namely, the multi-color display will be carry out by modifying the displaying period.
Further, in the present light control method, the so called double-pulse is desirable as a means for modifying the parameter of the applied voltage. In the double pulse, the voltage is modified stepwise.
Further, if the light control period is divided into some period, it is desirable that the absolute value of the voltage of the first period is larger than the absolute value of the voltage of the second period, and the length of the first period is shorter than the length of the second period. If the value of the voltage of the first period is larger and the length of the first period is shorter, the nucleation period can be efficiently distinguished from the nuclear growth period. Specifically, it is desirable that the absolute value of the voltage of the first period is larger than the absolute value of the nucleation voltage. Further, it is desirable that the absolute value of the voltage of the second period is larger than the absolute value of voltage of the nuclear growth voltage and is lower than the absolute value of nucleation voltage (see
Hereinabove, the present embodiment provides a display device having a high-quality mirror surface state and high contrast ratio, the display device being used even as transmission type. In particular, the present embodiment includes a mediator that causes oxidant-reduction reactions, the mediator having lower energy than silver, so that excellent repetitive durability thereof is obtained. Thus, a light control element and a product having the light control element can be provided, the light control element having a high-quality mirror surface state and high contrast ratio, and the light control element being used even as transmission type.
Further, the present embodiment, by modifying the value of the applied voltage in a light control period, the mirror state, the dark state and the color state are realized. In particular, multi-color display can be performed in the color state.
Further, in this embodiment, the mirror state, the dark state and the color state are carried out by using two electrodes, which the one electrode is a flat electrode and the other electrode is an uneven electrode. The mirror state and the color state are carried out by using two flat electrodes.
Further, in this embodiment, the applied voltage was modified in one light control period for depositing silver on the flat electrode. However, the applied voltage may be modified in one light control period for depositing silver on the uneven particle-modified electrode. In this case, the display device may express black as well as yellow and orange.
Further, this embodiment shows a display device as an example of light control elements. The light control element is not limited to the display device. Specifically, the light control element is applicable to such as a light control window of a building, a shop window of a shop or a commercial architecture, a so-called smart window of a plane or a train, a mirror of a car or a sunglasses, a information display medium in public space such as a station, a airport or a bus stop. The light control element is applicable in many product fields which needs the light control.
Herein, a display device is manufactured, and then effects thereof are confirmed. The details are described below.
(display device 1)
A display device 1 was actually manufactured. The present display device has glass substrates as a pair of substrates, ITO electrodes as a pair of electrodes, AgNO3 as a electrochromic material, DMSO as a solvent, TBABr as a supporting electrolyte (an antithesis reaction material), and CuCl2 as a mediator. In this display device, one electrode is a flat ITO electrode. Other electrode is an ITO particle-modified electrode. The other electrode is formed by spin-coating (500 rpm×5 s, 1500 rpm×15 s) and annealing. The spin-coating uses an ITO dispersion liquid including the ITO particles which the diameter is 100 nm-300 nm. The temperature of the annealing is 250 degree and the holding time is 1 hr. Further, the concentration of AgNO3 is 50 mM, the concentration of TBABr is 250 mM, and the concentration of the mediator is 10 mM. Moreover, the spacers were used for holding the thickness which is 500 micrometer between the pair of electrodes. The electrolyte layer was sandwiched between the pair of substrates.
From the surface profile, it was found that the difference between the maximum height and the minimum height was about 400 nm in the uneven transparent particle-modified electrode. Meanwhile, the difference between maximum height and the minimum height is only 20 nm or less, in the flat electrode.
By the surface profile, it is confirmed that the surface roughness of stylus type of the particle-modified electrode is 189 nm and it of the flat electrode is 1 nm. Moreover, nano-order roughness is formed on the particle-modified electrode. Meanwhile, the roughness of the flat electrode is less than it. It is confirmed that the difference of the roughness is very big.
The transmission spectrum measurement was carried out when the voltage from +2.5V to −2.5V was applied between the electrodes.
Further, the reflection spectrum in the case that the above voltage was applied was measured. The result is shown in
The repetition characteristic of the display device of this example was confirmed.
(display device 2)
Display device 2 was manufactured in the same way as the display device 1. The present display device has glass substrates as a pair of substrates, ITO electrodes as a pair of electrodes, AgNO3 as a electrochromic material, DMSO as a solvent, LiBr as a supporting electrolyte (an antithesis reaction material), and CuCl2 as a mediator. In this display device, one electrode is a flat ITO electrode. Other electrode is an ITO particle-modified electrode. The other electrode is formed by spin-coating (500 rpm×5 s, 1500 rpm×15 s) and annealing. The spin-coating uses an ITO dispersion liquid including the ITO particles which the diameter is 100 mn-300 nm. The temperature of the annealing is 250 degree and the holding time is 1 hr. Further, the concentration of AgNO3 is 50 mM, the concentration of LiBr is 250 mM, and the concentration of the mediator is 10 mM. Moreover, the spacers were used for holding the thickness which is 500 micrometer between the pair of electrodes. The electrolyte layer was sandwiched between the pair of substrates.
Further, step-voltage mode in which the applied voltage is modified in one light control period, and constant-voltage mode are adopted. The constant-voltage mode adopted two voltage patterns, +2.5V and 20 s, or −2.5V and 20 s. The step-voltage mode adopted two voltage patterns. In each voltage pattern, the light control period was divided into two periods. In the first voltage pattern, the first applied voltage in the first period is −3.0V and 0.1 s, and the second applied voltage in the second period is −1.5V and 20 s. In the second voltage pattern, the first applied voltage in the first period is −3.0V and 0.1 s, and the second applied voltage in the second period is −1.5V and 5 s.
In the constant voltage mode, when the voltage was +2.5V and the period was 20 s, the silver was deposited on the ITO particle-modified electrode, and a dark state was realized. Meanwhile, when the voltage was −2.5V and the period was 20 s, the silver was deposited on the flat ITO electrode, and a mirror state was realized.
In the case of the first voltage pattern of the step-voltage mode, silver was deposited on the flat ITO electrodes. However, the state was not the mirror state, but the blue color state. The display of the color state is shown in
The effect to the change of the color by modifying the first period in the step-voltage mode was confirmed. Specifically, the transmission spectra were measured by modifying only the first period (30 ms, 50 ms, 80 ms, 100 ms, 150 ms, 200 ms). The result is shown in
Furthermore, with the present display device, the change of the color was measured when the second voltage was fixed at −1.5V and the first voltage of the first period in the first voltage pattern of step-voltage mode was changed (from −2.3V to −3.0V).
Furthermore, with the present display device, the change of the color was measured when the first voltage was fixed at −3.0V and the second voltage of the second period in the first voltage pattern of step-voltage mode was changed (from −1.9V to -−1.1V).
(Confirmation of the color state)
Voltage of the step-voltage mode was applied to the uneven transparent particle-modified electrode of the above-described display device 1. Specifically, one light control period was divided into two periods. In the first period, the applied voltage was 4.0V and the length was 50 ms. In the second period, the applied voltage was 1.5V and the length was from 0 s to 20 s. Then, the change was confirmed.
Hereinabove, based on the example, it was confirmed that a light-adjusting element including electrochromic material and having mirror surface display mode with high reflection ratio, and a product containing the same could be obtained.
The present invention is industrially applicable as a display device.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-120501 | May 2012 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2013/064761 | 5/28/2013 | WO | 00 |
