Composite electrode and electrolytes comprising nanoparticles and resulting devices

• US 20100039690A1
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anoop, Tonazzi, Juan Carlos L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,593,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1516 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/36 Micro- or nanomaterials

Abstract

This invention discloses novel electrochromic devices and polymer actuator materials where nanoparticles are used to make composites. In particular, the said nanoparticles are wire shaped and disc shaped. These composites allow EC devices to be made with improved performance, particularly display devices could be made that consume low power and can be manufactured at low cost.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising of opposing conductive electrodes, and an electrolyte layer, wherein disc shaped nanoparticles are present in the said electrolyte layer.

2. An electrochromic device as in claim 1 which is used as a display.

3. An electrochromic device as in claim 1 which uses an electrochromic dye in the electrolyte.

4. An electrochromic device as in claim 1 wherein the disc shaped nanoparticles are formed by exfoliating layered silicates.

5. An electrochromic device as in claim 1, wherein the said electrolyte comprises at least one of an electrochromic dye, ionic liquid and a polymer.

6. An electrochromic device comprising of a redox electrode, wherein the said electrode further comprises conductive nanowires.

7. An electrochromic device as in claim 6 where EC material is bonded to the said nanowires.

8. An electrochromic device as in claim 6 that comprises additional electrochromic particles in the electrode.

9. An electrochromic electrode as in claim 8, wherein electrochromic particles are nanoparticles.

10. An electrochromic electrode as in claim 6, wherein the redox electrode comprises at least one of a conductive polymer and metal oxide.

11. An electrically activated polymeric actuator, comprising a redox electrode, wherein the said electrode comprises of conductive nanowires.

12. An electrically activated polymeric actuator as in claim 11, wherein a conductive polymer is used as the redox material.

13. An electrically activated polymeric actuator as in claim 11, wherein the polymeric actuator further comprises an electrolyte.

14. An electrically activated polymeric actuator as in claim 13, where disc shaped nanoparticles are used in the said electrode or the electrolyte.