Crown Electrokinetics Corp.

Crown Electrokinetics Corp. is an infrastructure solutions provider with three business divisions: Smart Windows, Fiber Optics, and Water Solutions. The Smart Windows division focuses on developing the company's electrokinetic (EK) technology, DynamicTint™, for commercial buildings. This technology aims to improve energy efficiency, lower carbon footprint, and increase comfort. The EK film technology originated from proprietary ink and microfluidic technology developed at HP Inc. Electrokinetic refers to the movement of particles in a fluid under an electric field. The EK film uses nanometer-sized, electrically charged pigment particles suspended in a liquid between two clear substrates coated with a transparent conductor oxide (TCO) film. In a non-energized state, these particles are uniformly distributed, absorbing, transmitting, or reflecting light (dark state). When an electrical signal is applied to the TCO layers, an electric field forms, collecting the charged pigment particles in micro-embossed holes in a polymer resin layer, making the fluid highly transparent (clear state). A different electrical signal disperses the pigment back into the fluid to achieve desired color density or opaqueness. Key components include clear Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) substrates, a transparent conductor on PET (Indium Tin Oxide, ITO), and electronic ink consisting of nanoparticles suspended in a light-absorbing fluid.