Project goals:
This project will be implemented over 2 years, where the goal is to develop novel electrochromic smart windows based on optimization of equipment design, material chemistry and manufacturing process for successful production of two flexible electrochromic window prototypes with dimensions of 20×20 cm and 30×30 cm, using Internet of Thing (IOT) for control via Wi-Fi, with low operating voltage (<3V), short fast switching time (<20 seconds), fast bleaching time (<1.0 minutes) and higher color efficiency (> 120 cm2.C-1) than the current state of the art electrochromic smart windows.
Urgency of the project
- This is the first project to develop flexible organic electrochromic windows that can be easily installed, restored from currently deployed glass windows or pasted on car windshields without the need of window glass change or new design.
- The proposed flexible electrochromic windows constitute the best up-to-date advances in organic electrochromic materials that can be easily synthesized from inexpensive organic chemicals. It also allows the molecular structure to be tailored to their electrochromic properties.
- The proposed smart electrochromic window will focus on a low-cost solution process that is compatible with fast-to-roll production processes without the need for expensive vacuum processes currently used for production of expensive inorganic smart electrochromic windows.
- The proposed smart electrochromic windows will significantly contribute to the energy savings of offices/buildings/vehicles, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- The proposed smart electrochromic window will have better transmittance in the bleached (colorless) state and deeper color in the tinted state, resulting in better occupant comfort.
- Multidisciplinary collaboration between industry (enterprise) and research institutes/universities, from different research fields (electrical engineering, organic synthesis, chemical engineering to materials science and electronics engineering) in these projects will facilitate 3-way collaboration (industry – education – research collaborative model) for the future development of other technology in Vietnam.
Novelty of the project
- Transparent conductive electrodes (TCE) have been proposed to be flexible using best up-to-date state of the art in flexible TCE using a mixture of high voltage conductive materials such as silver nanowires, graphene and conductive polymers. The simple solution process for manufacturing TCE uses roll-to-roll (R2R) technology such as printed coating, piezoelectric spraying. R2R coating technology allows to reduce the cost of TCE production compared to the current vacuum deposition method for TCE based on ITO, FTO, AZO ect.
- Organic electrochromic materials (small organic viologens and high-performance polymers) will be synthesized with tailored electrochromic properties, allowing smart electrochromic windows to control low voltages and easy solution coating methods. Organic electrochromic materials are versatile in molecular structure and color and can be easily synthesized from inexpensive organic chemicals. It also dissolves easily in solvents for solution coating processes.
- A gel electrolyte proposed in this project is the best combination of electrochromic properties (transmittance, potential window, ionic conductivity, stability) and cost-effectiveness.
- The device assembly proposed in this proposal is also easily manufactured using a roll-to-roll process.
