Soft Electrochromic Yarn with Low Operating Voltage

Overview

This project has developed a novel and sustainable way of fabricating a soft electrochromic yarn for use in a numeric textile display prototype. It has considerable potential to address the problems in the wearable display market.

Technical name of innovation

Soft Electrochromic Yarn with Low Operating Voltage

Research completion

2021

Commercialisation opportunities

Technology licensing

Problem addressed

Both optical fibres and coating electrochromic materials are not suitable for producing textile products. Optical fibres are high energy-consuming and rigid, while coating electrochromic materials used in these research projects are hard and toxic for human skin. Fabrics with coating electrochromic materials also fail to obtain pixels small enough for display.

Innovation

Soft yarn suitable for displaying information on clothes with an APP to control the displayed information
A non-toxic coating solution mixing tungsten powder in peroxide solution for yarn that can achieves high colour change efficiency
Enhancing the yarn by electroplating so that the yarn is electrochromic and with low-operating voltage and thus energy-saving achieved

Key impact

A breakthrough in the development of wearable display clothing that overcomes the drawbacks of optical fibres and coating electrochromic materials
A soft and eco-friendly alternative raw material for wearable display clothing; these yarns can be widely and easily used in the textile industry

Award

Gold Medal in the Special Edition 2021 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days

Application

Wearable display

Patent

15/733,737
201810316241.5

Video

Website

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA)

Established in 2006, The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) is funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR government, and hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

HKRITA has achieved research deliverables over the years around our research clusters targeting in sustainability, industry advancement and social benefits through our centre-owned research teams and laboratories as well as collaborations with industry partners and institutions.

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