Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Optimization of Electro-Optical Properties of Acrylate-based Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals for use in Transparent Conductive ZITO/Ag/ZITO Multilayer Films

투명 전도성 ZITO/Ag/ZITO 다층막 필름 적용을 위한 아크릴레이트 기반 고분자분산액정의 전기광학적 특성 최적화

  • Cho, Jung-Dae (Institute of Photonics & Surface Treatment, Q-Sys Co. Ltd.) ;
  • Kim, Yang-Bae (Institute of Photonics & Surface Treatment, Q-Sys Co. Ltd.) ;
  • Heo, Gi-Seok (National Center for Nanoprocesses and Equipment, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Kim, Eun-Mi (National Center for Nanoprocesses and Equipment, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Hong, Jin-Who (Department of Biochemical & Polymer Engineering, Chosun University)
  • Received : 2020.04.09
  • Accepted : 2020.04.23
  • Published : 2020.06.10
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Abstract

ZITO/Ag/ZITO multilayer transparent electrodes at room temperature on glass substrates were prepared using RF/DC magnetron sputtering. Transparent conductive films with a sheet resistance of 9.4 Ω/㎡ and a transmittance of 83.2% at 550 nm were obtained for the multilayer structure comprising ZITO/Ag/ZITO (100/8/42 nm). The sheet resistance and transmittance of ZITO/Ag/ZITO multilayer films meant that they would be highly applicable for use in polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)-based smart windows due to the ability to effectively block infrared rays (heat rays) and thereby act as an energy-saving smart glass. Effects of the thickness of the PDLC layer and the intensity of ultraviolet light (UV) on electro-optical properties, photopolymerization kinetics, and morphologies of difunctional urethane acrylate-based PDLC systems were investigated using new transparent conducting electrodes. A PDLC cell photo-cured using UV at an intensity of 2.0 mW/c㎡ with a 15 ㎛-thick PDLC layer showed outstanding off-state opacity, good on-state transmittance, and favorable driving voltage. Also, the PDLC-based smart window optimized in this study formed liquid crystal droplets with a favorable microstructure, having an average size range of 2~5 ㎛ for scattering light efficiently, which could contribute to its superior final performance.

본 연구에서는 RF/DC 마그네트론 증착법을 이용하여 실온에서 유리 기판 상에 ZITO/Ag/ZITO 다층막 투명전극을 제조하였다. ZITO/Ag/ZITO (100/8/42 nm)로 이루어진 다층막 구조에 대해, 면저항이 9.4 Ω/㎡이고 550 nm에서 투과도가 83.2%인 투명 전도성 필름이 얻어졌다. ZITO/Ag/ZITO 다층막 필름의 면저항 및 투과도 특성은 적외선(열선)을 효과적으로 차단할 수 있기 때문에 고분자분산액정(polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, PDLC) 기반 스마트 윈도우 적용에 매우 유용함을 알 수 있었으며 이로 인해 에너지 절약형 스마트 유리로서의 응용도 가능할 것으로 판단된다. 제조된 ZITO/Ag/ZITO 다층막 투명전극을 적용한 2관능성 우레탄 아크릴레이트 기반 PDLC 시스템에 있어서 PDLC 층 두께 및 자외선(ultraviolet, UV) 세기 변화가 전기광학적 특성, 광중합 동력학 및 표면 형태학에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 15 ㎛의 PDLC 층 두께를 가지며 2.0 mW/c㎡의 UV 세기로 광경화된 PDLC 셀이 우수한 off-state 불투명도, 높은 on-state 투과도 및 양호한 구동 전압을 나타냈다. 또한, 본 연구에서 제조된 최적 조건의 PDLC 기반 스마트 윈도우는 광을 효율적으로 산란시킬 수 있는 2~5 ㎛ 크기의 양호한 마이크로 구조를 갖는 액정 droplet들이 형성되었으며, 이로 인해 우수한 최종 물성을 갖는 PDLC 셀이 제조되었다.

Keywords

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