Class of charge-actuated chromogenic structures based on the oxidation and reduction of optical switchable materials in a thin-film electrochemical cell

• US 20040084661A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Williams R. Stanley, Xiao-An Zhang
• Original Assignee: Williams R. Stanley, Xiao-An Zhang
• Inventors: Williams, R. Stanley, Zhang, Xiao-An
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/586
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions

Abstract

An electrochemically-activated optical switch is provided, comprising a molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes. The molecular system includes a moiety that is oxidizable or reducible in the presence of an electric current.

Claims

1. An electrochemically-activated optical switch comprising a molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes, said molecular system including at least one organic non-polymeric molecule that changes color when oxidized or reduced by an electric current.

2. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein said organic non-polymeric molecule comprises a substituted tetrazole.

3. The optical switch of claim 2 wherein said substituted tetrazole is represented by the formula

4. The optical switch of claim 3 wherein any two of R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are alkyls and/or aryls, and the remainder hydrogen.

5. The optical switch of claim 3 wherein the ring carbon is in the 2-position.

6. The optical switch of claim 3 wherein said molecular system comprises:

7. The optical switch of claim 3 wherein said molecular system comprises:

8. A molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes, said molecular system including at least one organic non-polymeric molecule that changes color when oxidized or reduced by an electric current.

9. The molecular system of claim 8 wherein said organic non-polymeric molecule comprises a substituted tetrazole.

10. The molecular system of claim 9 wherein said substituted tetrazole is represented by the formula

11. The molecular system of claim 10 wherein any two of R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are alkyls and/or aryls, and the remainder hydrogen.

12. The molecular system of claim 10 wherein the ring carbon is in the 2-position.

13. The molecular system of claim 10 wherein said molecular system comprises:

14. The molecular system of claim 10 wherein said molecular system comprises: