Pod Including Light-Switchable Material for an Aerosol-Generating Device, and Aerosol-Generating Device Comprising the Same

Abstract

A pod includes a light-switchable layer for an aerosol-generating device in which leakage of an aerosol-generating liquid material (e-liquid) during transit and storage is prevented. The pod for an aerosol-generating device further includes a porous wick; a reservoir including a discharge opening for an aerosol-generating liquid material; and at least one light emitting source. The porous wick is coated with a light-switchable layer on a surface thereof sealing the discharge opening of the reservoir so that the light-switchable layer is arranged between the discharge opening of the reservoir and the porous wick. The light-switchable layer includes an amphiphilic inorganic material being hydrophobic and impermeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material in the dark and becoming hydrophilic and permeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material when exposed to light. The at least one light emitting source is configured to illuminate the light-switchable layer.

1 . A pod for an aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a porous wick;   a reservoir including a discharge opening for an aerosol-generating liquid material; and   at least one light emitting source,   wherein the porous wick is coated with a light-switchable layer on a surface thereof sealing the discharge opening of the reservoir so that the light-switchable layer is arranged between the discharge opening of the reservoir and the porous wick,   wherein the light-switchable layer comprises an amphiphilic inorganic material being hydrophobic and impermeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material in the dark and becoming hydrophilic and permeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material when exposed to light, and   wherein the at least one light emitting source is configured to illuminate the light-switchable layer.   
     
     
         2 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the amphiphilic inorganic material is hydrophobic in the dark and becomes hydrophilic when exposed to ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         3 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the amphiphilic inorganic material is at least one selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , ZnO and SnO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the amphiphilic inorganic material is at least one selected from the group consisting of TiO 2  nanoparticles, ZnO nanoparticles and SnO 2  nanoparticles. 
     
     
         5 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light-switchable layer has a thickness of 10 nm to 100 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting source is configured to illuminate the light-switchable layer by direct illumination and/or by reflection of the emitted light from a reservoir sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting source emits light with a wavelength in the range of 350 to 450 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting source is an UV light emitting diode. 
     
     
         9 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting source is arranged to illuminate the light-switchable layer by emitting light through the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir comprises at least one UV transparent window arranged to allow the at least one light emitting source to illuminate the light-switchable layer by emitting light through the window. 
     
     
         11 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the UV transparent window is made of any one of glass, inorganic quarz, silicone elastomer, acrylic polymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate and cyclic olefin copolymers. 
     
     
         12 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous wick is made of ceramic, silica or cotton. 
     
     
         13 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an airflow channel configured to allow air entering the pod through an inlet being guided through the porous wick and/or along a surface of the porous wick, and exiting the pod through an outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein when the air is guided along the surface of the porous wick, the porous wick has a vapor channel structure forming vapor channels on that surface of the porous wick along which the air is guided. 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol-generating device comprising the pod as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting source emits light with a wavelength in the range of 365 to 405 nm.