Display panel

An embodiment of the present application provides a display panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, barrier walls, and an electrophoretic material. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate, and the second substrate includes a substrate layer, a metal layer, a first protective layer, a nanoparticle layer, and a second protective layer arranged in a stack. The second protective layer is disposed on a side of the second substrate facing the first substrate. The barrier walls are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of receiving spaces are defined by the barrier walls, the first substrate, and the second substrate, and the electrophoretic material is contained in each of the receiving spaces.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present application relates to the field of display technologies, and in particular, to a display panel.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

With rapid development of display technologies, electrophoretic display devices are widely used in display fields such as electronic tags, electronic billboards, and wearable display devices due to their advantages such as light weight and thinness, durability, and low power consumption.

Electrophoretic display devices are generally black and white. In order to achieve color display, methods such as color filters, color dyes, multi-particles, and color microcapsules are usually used.

However, the above methods not only have a complicated driving method, but also cause a reduction in transmittance and resolution of the display devices, thereby affecting display effect of the display devices.

Technical Problem

Current electrophoretic display devices have poor display performance.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Solutions

The embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, which can improve the display effect of the display panel.

An embodiment of the present application provides a display panel, including:

a first substrate;

a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, the second substrate including a substrate layer, a metal layer, a first protective layer, a nanoparticle layer, and a second protective layer arranged in a stack, and the second protective layers disposed on a side of the second substrate facing the first substrate;

a plurality of barrier walls disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of receiving spaces defined by the barrier walls, the first substrate, and the second substrate; and

an electrophoretic material contained in each of the receiving spaces.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the electrophoretic material includes an electrophoretic liquid and electrophoretic particles, and the electrophoretic particles are black charged particles.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a material of the barrier walls is a hydrophobic material, and the electrophoretic particles are particles having a hydrophobic surface.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a material of the barrier walls is a hydrophilic material, and the electrophoretic particles are particles having a hydrophilic surface.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the electrophoretic particles are configured to move toward the first substrate under an action of an electric field, so that the display panel is in a dark state.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the electrophoretic particles are configured to adsorb on the barrier walls, so that the display panel is in a reflective state.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the display panel further including a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, wherein the first electrodes are disposed on the first substrate, and the second electrodes are disposed on the second substrate.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, each of the first electrodes is a transparent electrode, the first electrodes cover a side of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and are disposed between the barrier walls; and the second electrodes are disposed at a plurality of corners formed by the second substrate and the barrier walls.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the first electrode is configured to apply a voltage to the electrophoretic particles with a polarity opposite to the electrophoretic particles to make the electrophoretic particles move toward the first substrate, so that the display panel is in a dark state; and

the second electrode is configured to apply a voltage to the electrophoretic particles with a polarity opposite to the electrophoretic particles to make the electrophoretic particles move toward the corners formed by the second substrate and the barrier walls, so that the display panel returns to a reflective state from the dark state.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the nanoparticle layer includes metal nanoparticles distributed in an array.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the each of the receiving spaces includes a plurality of first accommodation spaces, a plurality of second accommodation spaces, or a plurality of third accommodation spaces, a gap positioned between adjacent metal nanoparticles in each of the first accommodation spaces is a first pitch, a gap positioned between adjacent metal nanoparticles in each of the second accommodation spaces is a second pitch, and a gap positioned between adjacent metal nanoparticles in each of the third accommodation spaces is a third pitch, the first pitch is different from the second pitch, the first pitch is different from the third pitch, and the second pitch is different from the third pitch.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, each of the first accommodation spaces is a red region, each of the second accommodation spaces is a green region, and each of the third accommodation spaces is a blue region.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the metal nanoparticles are configured to generate a structural color by plasma resonance with a metal in the metal layer, so that the second substrate reflects visible light.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a material of the metal nanoparticles includes magnesium, aluminum, molybdenum, copper, silver or titanium.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a size of each of the metal nanoparticles ranges from 3 nanometers to 200 nanometers.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a gap between adjacent metal nanoparticles in the nanoparticle layer ranges from 3 nanometers to 400 nanometers.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, the electrophoretic material is electronic ink.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a material of the metal layer includes magnesium, aluminum, molybdenum, copper, silver, or titanium.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a material of the first protective layer includes aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxide.

In the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application, a material of the second protective layer is aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxide.

Beneficial Effect

The display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application includes a first substrate; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, wherein the second substrate includes a substrate layer, a metal layer, a first protective layer, a nanoparticle layer, and a second protective layer arranged in a stack, and the second protective layer is disposed on a side of the second substrate facing the first substrate; a plurality of barrier walls disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a plurality of receiving spaces are defined by the barrier walls, the first substrate, and the second substrate; and an electrophoretic material contained in each of the receiving spaces. Through the present solution, transmittance and resolution of the display panel can be improved, thereby improving display effect of the display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following content combines with the drawings and the embodiment for describing the present invention in detail. It is obvious that the following embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention. For the skilled persons of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort, the other embodiments obtained thereby are still covered by the present invention.

An embodiment of the present application provides a display panel, which will be described in detail below.

Please refer toFIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a first structure of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present application. The display panel100can include a first substrate10, a second substrate20, a plurality of barrier walls30, and an electrophoretic material40.

The first substrate10can be a flexible display substrate. A material of the first substrate10can include an organic flexible material such as polyimide (PI).

The second substrate20is disposed opposite to the first substrate10. In some embodiments, the second substrate20can include a substrate layer21, a metal layer22, a first protective layer23, a nanoparticle layer24, and a second protective layer25, which are arranged in a stack, as shown inFIG. 2.

It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, any technical or scientific term used herein shall have the common meaning understood by a person of ordinary skills. Such words as “first” and “second” used in the specification and claims are merely used to differentiate different components rather than to represent any order, number or importance. Thus, the features defined as “first,” “second,” and “third” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms such as “center”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, etc., the orientation or positional relationship of the indications is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is merely for the convenience of the description of the invention and the simplified description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or component referred to has a specific orientation, in a specific orientation. The construction and operation are therefore not to be construed as limiting the invention.

The substrate layer21can be a flexible substrate. A material of the substrate layer21can include an organic flexible material such as polyimide (PI). Materials of the metal layer22and the nanoparticle layer24can include metal materials, such as magnesium, aluminum, molybdenum, copper, silver, and titanium. Materials of the first protective layer23and the second protective layer25can include materials such as aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxide.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 3, the nanoparticle layer24can include a plurality of metal nanoparticles241distributed in an array. A size of the metal nanoparticles241ranges from 3 nanometers to 200 nanometers, and a gap between adjacent metal nanoparticles241ranges from 3 nanometers to 400 nanometers. A shape of the metal nanoparticles241can be square, rectangular, circular, or other shapes.

It should be noted that the metal nanoparticles in the nanoparticle layer24are configured to generate a structural color by plasma resonance with a metal in the metal layer22, so that the second substrate20reflects visible light.

In some embodiments, the size of the metal nanoparticles241in the nanoparticle layer24and the gap between adjacent metal nanoparticles241can be adjusted accordingly, so that the second substrate20can reflect red, green, blue, or other colors of visible light.

The barrier walls30can be disposed between the first substrate10and the second substrate20. The barrier walls30can be enclosed with the first substrate10and the second substrate20into a plurality of receiving spaces31. It should be noted that a material of the barrier walls30can be selected according to actual conditions, such as hydrophobic materials or hydrophilic materials.

In some embodiments, the receiving spaces31can include a plurality of first accommodation spaces311, a plurality of second accommodation spaces312, or a plurality of third accommodation spaces313. The gap between adjacent metal nanoparticles241in each of the first accommodation spaces311is a first pitch, the gap between adjacent metal nanoparticles241in each of the second accommodation spaces312is a second pitch, and the gap between adjacent metal nanoparticles241in each of the third accommodation spaces313is a third pitch. It can be understood that, in order for the first accommodation spaces311, the second accommodation spaces312, and the third accommodation spaces313to reflect red, green, or blue light, respectively, the first pitch, the second pitch, and the third pitch are different from each other. That is, the first pitch is different from the second pitch, the first pitch is different from the third pitch, and the second pitch is different from the third pitch. In some embodiments, each of the first accommodation spaces311can be a red region, each of the second accommodation spaces312can be a green region, and each of the third accommodation spaces313can be a blue region.

The electrophoretic material40can be stored in the each of the receiving spaces31. The electrophoretic material40can include electrophoretic particles41and an electrophoretic liquid42. The electrophoretic material40can be electronic ink. It can be understood that the electrophoretic particles41can be moved by an electric field.

It should be noted that the electrophoretic particles41can be organic particles, inorganic particles, or colored microcapsule particles. The organic particles can include polymer spheres and similar compound pigment particles. The inorganic particles can include silica, titanium dioxide, or carbon black particles and the like. The colored microcapsules can be particles that package color liquid as in a cod liver oil form. In the embodiment of the present application, the electrophoretic particles41are black charged particles.

In order to allow the electrophoretic particles41to be adsorbed onto the barrier walls30in the absence of an electric field, so that the display panel100is in a reflective state and realizes color display, in some embodiments, the electrophoretic particles41and the barrier walls30can be set correspondingly. Specifically, when the material of the barrier walls30is a hydrophobic material, surfaces of the electrophoretic particles41can be subjected to a hydrophobic treatment, so that the electrophoretic particles41become particles with hydrophobic surfaces. Or, when the material of the barrier walls30is a hydrophilic material, surfaces of the electrophoretic particles41can be subjected to a hydrophilic treatment, so that the electrophoretic particles41become particles having hydrophilic surfaces. It can be understood that according to the principle of similar phase attraction, when the material of the barrier walls30and the surface of the electrophoretic particles41have a same property, the electrophoretic particles41are adsorbed onto the barrier walls30when there is no electric field, as shown inFIG. 4.

It should be noted that when an electric field is present, the electrophoretic particles41can move toward the first substrate10under the action of the electric field, and finally move to a surface of the first substrate10, and an incident light can be absorbed by the electrophoretic particles41, so that the display panel100exhibits the dark state, which can be specifically shown inFIG. 5.

The display panel100further includes a first electrode50and a second electrode60. The first electrode50can be disposed on the first substrate10. The second electrode60can be disposed on the second substrate20.

It can be understood that when the display panel100needs to be returned from a dark state to a reflective state, a voltage applied to the display panel100can be stopped, and the electrophoretic particles41can move from the surface of the first substrate10toward the barrier walls30and are finally attracted to the barrier walls30according to the principle of similar phase attraction.

However, a speed of the display panel100returning from the dark state to the reflective state merely by the principle of similar phase attraction is slow, which may cause a response speed of the display panel100to be slow. In some embodiments, in order to speed up the display panel100to return from the dark state to the reflective state, the first electrode50and the second electrode60can be processed accordingly.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 6orFIG. 7, the first electrode50can be configured as a transparent electrode, and the first electrode50covers a side of the first substrate10facing the second substrate20. It can be understood that, in order to save manufacturing cost, the first electrode50can be divided into a plurality of portions corresponding to only a portion of the first substrate10between the barrier walls30facing the second substrate20. That is, the first electrode50can be disposed between the barrier walls30. Specifically, the second electrode60can be divided into a plurality of parts, and are disposed at a plurality of corners formed by the second substrate20and the barrier walls30. It should be noted that, when the display panel100needs to be in the dark state, a voltage with a polarity opposite to that of the electrophoretic particles41can be applied to the first electrode50, so that the electrophoretic particles41move quickly toward the first substrate10and are adsorbed onto the first substrate10, as shown inFIG. 6. The incident light can be absorbed by the electrophoretic particles41so that the display panel100is in the dark state. When the display panel100needs to be returned from the dark state to the reflective state, the voltage applied to the first electrode50can be stopped, and a voltage with a polarity opposite to that of the electrophoretic particles41can be applied to the second electrode60, so that the electrophoretic particles41quickly move to the corners formed by the second substrate20and the barrier walls30. The incident light can reach the second substrate20to make the display panel100be in the reflective state, and a color display is realized, as shown inFIG. 7.

From the above mentioned, the display panel100provided in the embodiments of the present application can include the first substrate10, the second substrate20, the barrier walls30, and the electrophoretic material40. The second substrate20is disposed opposite to the first substrate10. The second substrate20includes the substrate layer21, the metal layer22, the first protective layer23, the nanoparticle layer24, and the second protective layer25. The second protective layer25is disposed on the side of the second substrate20facing the first substrate10. The barrier walls30are disposed between the first substrate10and the second substrate20. The receiving spaces31are defined by the barrier walls30, the first substrate10, and the second substrate20. The electrophoretic material40is contained in each of the receiving spaces31. In the present solution, the metal nanoparticles241in the nanoparticle layer24of the second substrate20are configured to generate the structural color by plasma resonance with the metal in the metal layer22, so that the incident light can be reflected with corresponding visible light after reaching the second substrate20. The visible light can be directly emitted from the first substrate10without undergoing other processes, such as filtering, thereby reducing light consumption and improving the light utilization rate of the display panel100. In addition, since the corresponding visible light can be directly reflected by the second substrate20, color display can be realized without filtering through color resistance or color ink; that is, reducing light blocking and reducing light consumption, thereby improving the transmittance of the display panel100and the resolution of the display panel100, and further improving the display effect of the display panel100.

The display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application has been described in detail above. The principle and implementation of the present application are explained using specific examples in this document. The description of the above embodiments is only configured to help understand the technical solution of the present application and its core ideas. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that any modification of equivalent structure or equivalent process made according to the disclosure and drawings of the present invention, or any application thereof, directly or indirectly, to other related fields of technique, is considered encompassed in the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.