Vacuum filling process for electrolyte in enhancing electrochromic polymer window assembly

Abstract

The electrochromic (EC) smart window developed in our group is based on EC polymers. This is a multilayer structured device, with an ion conductive electrolyte sandwiched between the EC and ion storage layers. Achieving a void free and uniform electrolyte layer without damaging the EC polymer thin film is the key process, which strongly affects the mass production of large sized electrochromic window (ECW). We developed a vacuum filling station system for ECW. A specially shaped ECW with inlet port was designed and used in the test. Dimension of the cavity between two layers was controlled by glass beads spacer (30-50 μm). Using the principle of fluid capillary effect, low vacuum pressure (∼100 μm Hg) helps to accelerate liquid electrolyte (propylene carbonate dissolved with lithium perchlorate) filling into the cavity without bubbles. The developed vacuum filling station system demonstrated enhancing ECW assembly. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.