SBIR PHASE I: Lithium Ion Conductor Films for Electrochromic Windows by Spray Coating

SBIR PHASE I：喷涂电致变色窗用锂离子导体薄膜

• 批准号: 9560747
• 负责人: Michael Badding
• 金额: $ 7.5万
• 依托单位: SAGE ELECTROCHROMICS,INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1996
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1996-03-01 至 1996-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9560747&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; PHASE; Lithium; Ion; Conductor

This SBIR Phase I project is proposed by SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. to evaluate the feasibility of using spray coating technology to produce solution-derived, ceramic lithium-ion conductor (IC) films for electrochromic windows. The worldwide development of electrochromic (EC) glazing technology has been severely impeded by the inability to identify and develop an electrolyte that satisfies the performance, durability and cost requirements demanded for architectural glass applications. SAGE believes it has uniquely achieved the performance and stability objectives with a patented solution-derived IC. Although used to some extent in commercial applications, dip coating is an expensive and impractical batch process when production throughput, handling and manufacturing costs are critical to the ultimate commercial potential. A technology well-developed by the automotive industry, spray coating has tremendous potential in the extremely demanding EC window application. A key challenge will be to adapt this continuous process technology to the difficult-to-process thin-film ceramic materials in a way that preserves the essential functionality and performance of SAGE's dip coating developed IC. Specific issues associated with this include microstructure, composition, thickness, ionic and electronic conductivity's and surface morphology. During Phase I, SAGE's principal objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of spray coating for lithium ion-conductor films by successfully making a functional small-area EC device. To achieve this goal, SAGE will 1) spray coat lithium IC films on glass substrates to evaluate uniformity, thickness, and composition, 2) fabricate partial device structures to establish compositional uniformity, ion conductivity, electronic resistance and functionality of the relevant interfaces, and 3) incorporate the spray coated IC into a complete EC device to demonstrate the performance of the integrated system. If successful, this research will raise production rates, improve safety and process reliability, and reduce manufacturing costs - resolving the one major technological barrier to cost-effective electrochromic glazing. These results are estimated to represent a 25% cost savings based on costs at full market penetration. Electrochromicglazing will have a large impact on the architectural glass industry since, for the first time, building occupants and owners will have the ability to electronically control the shading of their window glass - anywhere from clear to heavily darkened. EC glazing will find application in any window where solar control is an issue - benefiting the residential, commercial and government building sectors by providing substantial energy savings and enhanced comfort. In addition to architectural windows, EC glazing will be ideally suited for automobiles and other transportation vehicles, and also for numerous specialty applications - including large-area electronic displays, recreational products, and consumer appliances and gadgetry. Beyond its application in electrochromics, this proposed spray coating technology may find uses in other large-area thin-film applications that include rechargeable lithium batteries, sensors, and optical coatings.

该SBIR第一阶段项目由SAGE Electrochrochemistry，Inc.提出。评估使用喷涂技术生产用于电致变色窗的溶液衍生的陶瓷锂离子导体（IC）膜的可行性。电致变色（EC）玻璃窗技术的世界范围内的发展由于不能识别和开发满足建筑玻璃应用所需的性能、耐久性和成本要求的电解质而受到严重阻碍。SAGE相信它已经通过专利解决方案衍生的IC实现了性能和稳定性目标。 虽然在一定程度上用于商业应用，但当生产量、处理和制造成本对最终的商业潜力至关重要时，浸涂是昂贵且不切实际的分批工艺。喷涂技术是汽车行业开发的一项技术，在要求极高的EC车窗应用中具有巨大的潜力。一个关键的挑战将是使这种连续工艺技术适应难以加工的薄膜陶瓷材料，同时保持SAGE浸涂开发的IC的基本功能和性能。与此相关的具体问题包括微观结构、成分、厚度、离子和电子导电性以及表面形态。 在第一阶段，SAGE的主要目标是通过成功制造功能性小面积EC设备来证明喷涂锂离子导体薄膜的可行性。为了实现这一目标，SAGE将1）在玻璃基板上喷涂锂IC薄膜，以评估均匀性、厚度和成分，2）制造部分器件结构，以建立相关界面的成分均匀性、离子电导率、电子电阻和功能，以及3）将喷涂的IC纳入完整的EC器件中，以展示集成系统的性能。如果成功，这项研究将提高生产率，提高安全性和工艺可靠性，并降低制造成本-解决成本效益电致变色玻璃的一个主要技术障碍。这些结果估计代表了25%的成本节约的基础上，在完全市场渗透的成本。 电致变色玻璃将对建筑玻璃行业产生巨大影响，因为建筑物的居住者和业主将首次能够电子控制窗户玻璃的遮光-从透明到重度变暗的任何地方。EC玻璃将在任何太阳能控制是一个问题的窗口中找到应用-通过提供大量的节能和增强的舒适性，使住宅，商业和政府建筑部门受益。除了建筑窗户外，EC玻璃还非常适合汽车和其他运输车辆，以及许多特殊应用-包括大面积电子显示器，娱乐产品以及消费电器和小工具。除了在电致变色中的应用外，这种喷涂技术还可以用于其他大面积薄膜应用，包括可充电锂电池、传感器和光学涂层。