Reversible electrodeposition devices and associated electrochemical media

• US 20070195398A1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, Kathy, Guarr, Thomas, Lin, Rongguang, Theiste, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an electrochemical medium for use in a reversible electrodeposition device including at least one solvent, at least one anodic electroactive material, at least one active metal; and optionally at least one redox buffer.

Claims

1. An electrochemical medium for use in a reversible electrodeposition device, comprising:

at least one solvent;

at least one anodic electroactive material;

at least one active metal; and

at least one redox buffer.

2. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active metal undergoes reduction proximate a nucleation layer of an associated reversible electrodeposition device during normal operation of the same.

3. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active metal comprises a salt of an active metal selected from the group comprising bismuth, cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, nickel, platinum, silver, zinc, and mixtures thereof.

4. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anodic electroactive material comprises a ferrocenyl salt.

5. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anodic electroactive material comprises a solution phase anodic electroactive material.

6. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, further comprising a complexing agent.

7. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is more easily reduced than a cathodic material.

8. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

9. The electrochemical medium according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer comprises:

a first component that is more easily reduced than a cathodic material; and

a second component that is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

10. A reversible electrodeposition device, comprising:

a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a nucleation layer at least partially covering at least one of the electrically conductive materials of the first and second substrates; and

the electrochemical medium according to claim 1 contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates.

11. An electrochemical medium for use in a reversible electrodeposition device, comprising:

at least one solvent;

at least one active metal; and

at least one anodic electroactive material, wherein the concentration of the at least one anodic electroactive material is greater than the concentration of the at least one active metal.

12. The electrochemical medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one active metal undergoes reduction proximate a nucleation layer of an associated reversible electrodeposition device during normal operation of the same.

13. The electrochemical medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one active metal comprises a salt of an active metal selected from the group comprising bismuth, cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, nickel, platinum, silver, zinc, and mixtures thereof.

14. The electrochemical medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one anodic material comprises a substituted phenazine.

15. The electrochemical medium according to claim 11, wherein the at least one anodic material comprises a solution phase anodic electroactive material.

16. The electrochemical medium according to claim 11, further comprising a complexing agent.

17. The electrochemical medium according to claim 11, further comprising a redox buffer.

18. The electrochemical medium according to claim 17, wherein the redox buffer is more easily reduced than a cathodic material.

19. The electrochemical medium according to claim 17, wherein the redox buffer is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

20. The electrochemical medium according to claim 17, wherein the redox buffer comprises:

a first component that is more easily reduced than a cathodic material; and

a second component that is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

21. A reversible electrodeposition device, comprising:

a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a nucleation layer at least partially covering at least one of the electrically conductive materials of the first and second substrates; and

the electrochemical medium according to claim 11 contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates.

22. An electroactive device, comprising:

an electrochromic element sub-assembly, wherein the electrochromic element sub-assembly is positioned as the outer sub-assembly;

an electrodeposition element sub-assembly, wherein the electrodeposition element sub-assembly is positioned between the electrochromic element sub-assembly and an emissive display element sub-assembly; and

an emissive display element sub-assembly, wherein the emissive display element sub-assembly is positioned behind the electrodeposition element sub-assembly.

23. The electroactive device according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the electrochromic element sub-assembly and the electrodeposition element sub-assembly comprises an electrochemical medium, comprising:

at least one solvent;

at least one anodic electroactive material; and

at least one active metal.

24. The electroactive device according to claim 23, further comprising a complexing agent.

25. The electroactive device according to claim 23, further comprising at least one redox buffer.

26. The electroactive device according to claim 23, wherein the concentration of the at least one anodic electroactive material is greater than the concentration of the at least one active metal.

27. The electroactive device according to claim 23, wherein the device in an automotive rear-view mirror.