Color-stabilized electrochromic devices

• US 20050280885A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Guarr, Thomas F., Lomprey, Jeffrey R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,265,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds

Abstract

An electrochromic device comprising: (a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: (1) a solvent; (2) a cathodic electroactive material; (3) an anodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and (4) a color-stabilizing additive, wherein the color-stabilizing additive is electroactive within a normal operating voltage of the electrochromic device; and (d) means associated with the color-stabilizing additive for maintaining an at least nearly colorless electrochromic device while the electrochromic device is in an open circuit and/or zero potential state relative to the same device without the color-stabilizing additive.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

(a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

(b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

(c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises;

(1) a solvent;

(2) a cathodic electroactive material;

(3) an anodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and

(4) a color-stabilizing additive.