Switchable window based on electrochromic polymers
First Claim
1. An electrochromic device comprising:
- (a) a transparent electrode layer;
(b) a cathodic polymer layer;
(c) an electrolyte layer comprising a solid electrolyte;
(d) a reference electrode electrically coupled to the electrolyte layer, the reference electrode increasing a speed with which the device switches between a first state and a second state; and
(e) a counter electrode layer.
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Abstract
Syntheses of a new blue EC monomer (ProDOT-MePro), and a new red EC monomer (ProDOP-Et2) are described. Two additional new types of EC monomers based on 3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene include fluorinated EC monomers and an EC monomer including silicon. EC polymer devices having more than one different color EC polymer to enable additional colors to be provided using subtractive color mixing are also described, as well as EC polymer devices incorporating a logo, image, or text, are generally obscured when the device is colored, but become visible when the device is not colored. Also described are EC polymer devices that include a cathodic EC polymer layer, a gel electrolyte, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode. Working prototypes of such devices exhibit significant increases in the speed of transition of the EC device from a colored state to a transparent state.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An electrochromic device comprising:
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(a) a transparent electrode layer;
(b) a cathodic polymer layer;
(c) an electrolyte layer comprising a solid electrolyte;
(d) a reference electrode electrically coupled to the electrolyte layer, the reference electrode increasing a speed with which the device switches between a first state and a second state; and
(e) a counter electrode layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrochromic device comprising:
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(a) a transparent electrode layer;
(b) a cathodic polymer layer;
(c) an electrolyte layer comprising a solid electrolyte;
(d) a counter electrode layer; and
(e) at least one of a logo, a text, and a graphical image, such that when the electrochromic device is in a first state, the at least one of the logo, the text, and the graphical image is substantially obscured, and when the electrochromic device is in a second state, the at least one of the logo, the text, and the graphical image is readily visible. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrochromic device comprising:
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(a) a first cathodic polymer switchable between a first state and a second state, the first cathodic polymer exhibiting a first color in the first state, and being generally transparent in the second state; and
(b) a second cathodic polymer switchable between a first state and a second state, the second cathodic polymer exhibiting a second color in the first state, and being generally transparent in the second state, the first cathodic polymer and the second cathodic polymer being disposed in relation to each other so that when the first cathodic polymer is in the first state and the second cathodic polymer is in the first state, the electrochromic device exhibits a third color, the third color being achieved by subtractive color mixing of the first cathodic polymer and the second cathodic polymer. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An electrochromic device comprising:
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(a) a transparent electrode layer;
(b) a cathodic polymer layer;
(c) an electrolyte layer comprising at least one of;
(i) gamma butyrolactone, propylene carbonate, lithium perchlorate, and polymethylmethacrylate; and
(ii) ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, lithium perchlorate, and polymethylmethacrylate; and
(d) a counter electrode layer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrochromic device comprising:
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(a) a transparent electrode layer;
(b) a cathodic polymer layer;
(c) an electrolyte layer comprising a solid electrolyte; and
(d) a counter electrode layer comprising vanadium pentoxide.
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24. An electrochromic monomer having the formula 3-methyl-3′
- -propyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno(3,4-b)(1,4)dioxepine.
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25. A blue electrochromic polymer having the formula poly[3-methyl-3′
- -propyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno(3,4-b)(1,4)dioxepine].
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26. An electrochromic monomer having the formula 3,3-diethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H,7H-(1,4)dioxepino(2,3-c)pyrrole.
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27. A red electrochromic polymer having the formula poly[3,3-diethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H,7H-(1,4)dioxepino(2,3-c)pyrrole].
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28. An electrochromic monomer having the formula 3,4-bis-R-thiophene, wherein R comprises one of:
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(a) 2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy;
(b) 2-fluoro-ethoxy;
(c) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, pentafluorobenzoxy; and
(d) 2,2-difluoro-1-3-propoxy.
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29. An electrochromic monomer having the formula 6,6-dimethy-6,7-dihydro-5H-4,8-dioxa-2-thia-6-sila-azulene.
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30. A method for synthesizing an electrochromic polymer suitable for use as a cathodic layer within a laminated electrochromic device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first quantity of 3,4-dimethoxythiophene and a second quantity of 2-methyl-3-propyl-propanediol;
(b) dissolving the first and second quantities in a sufficient quantity of toluene, such that substantially all of the first and second quantities dissolve in the toluene to form a solution; and
(c) refluxing the solution for a defined period of time, such that;
(i) the solution boils;
(ii) the toluene vaporizes, condenses, and returns to the solution; and
(iii) the first and second quantities react to form [3-methyl-3′
-propyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno(3,4-b)(1,4)dioxepine]. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification