ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICE AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF

• US 20170329197A1
• Filed: 11/17/2015
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: YASHIRO, Tohru, YUTANI, Keiichiroh, KIM, Sukchan, YAMAMOTO, Satoshi, MATSUMOTO, Takahiko, KANEKO, Fuminari, YAGINUMA, Hidekazu, INOUE, Mamiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,495,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/00 Shaping by thermoforming , i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor blow moulding of tubular preforms B29C49/00, deforming of tubular or hollow preforms B29C67/0014
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00634 Production of filters
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0073 Optical laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0074 Production of other optical elements not provided for in B29D11/00009- B29D11/0073
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00807 Producing lenses combined with electronics, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• 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 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/50 Protective arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/501 Blocking layers, e.g. against migration of ions

Abstract

To provide an electrochromic device, including a laminated body, which includes: at least one support; a first electrode layer on the support; an electrochromic layer on the first electrode layer; a second electrode layer disposed to face the first electrode layer; and an electrolyte layer, which fills between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and is on the electrochromic layer, the at least one support including a resin substrate, and the laminated body having a desired curve formed by thermoforming.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a laminated body, which comprises;

at least one support;

a first electrode layer on the at least one support;

an electrochromic layer on the first electrode layer;

a second electrode layer disposed to face the first electrode layer; and

an electrolyte layer, which fills between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and is on the electrochromic layer,

the at least one support comprising a resin substrate, and the laminated body having a desired curve formed by thermoforming.

2. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a maximum length of a major length of the at least one support on the curve of the laminated body after the thermoforming is 120% or less relative to a maximum length of a major length of the support on a flat surface of the laminated body before the thermoforming.

3. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a maximum length of a major length of the support on the curve of the laminated body after the thermoforming is 103% or less relative to a maximum length of a major length of the support on a flat surface of the laminated body before the thermoforming.

4. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer contains conductive metal, conductive oxide, conductive carbon, or any combination thereof.

5. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer has a laminate structure including a layer containing conductive metal or conductive carbon, and a conductive oxide layer.

6. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, further comprising an antideterioration layer in contact with the second electrode layer, wherein the antideterioration layer is configured to carry out a reverse electrochemical reaction to an oxidation reduction reaction of the electrochromic layer.

7. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte layer is a solid electrolyte layer, and the solid electrolyte layer contains a solid solution of a matrix polymer containing an oxyalkylene chain, and an ionic liquid.

8. A method for producing an electrochromic device, the method comprising:

thermoforming a laminated body to have a desired curve, wherein the electrochromic device comprises;

a laminated body, which comprises;

at least one support;

a first electrode layer on the at least one support;

an electrochromic layer on the first electrode layer;

a second electrode layer disposed to face the first electrode layer; and

an electrolyte layer, which fills between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and is on the electrochromic layer,

the at least one support comprising a resin substrate, and the laminated body having a desired curve formed by thermoforming.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

forming the first electrode layer on the at least one support;

forming the electrochromic layer on the first electrode layer;

forming a solid electrolyte layer on the electrochromic layer;

forming the second electrode layer on the solid electrolyte layer; and

forming a protective layer on the second electrode layer to form the laminated body.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

forming the first electrode layer on a first support, and forming the electrochromic layer on the first electrode layer to produce a first member;

forming the second electrode layer on a second support to produce a second member; and

bonding the first member and the second member together with the electrolyte layer being between the first member and the second member, to form the laminated body.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

forming a resin layer on an outer surface of the at least one support to thicken the support, and cutting the support thickened to form a desired curve.

12. An electrochromic dimming device, comprising:

an electrochromic device, wherein the electrochromic device comprises;

a laminated body, which comprises;

at least one support;

a first electrode layer on the at least one support;

an electrochromic layer on the first electrode layer;

a second electrode layer disposed to face the first electrode layer; and

an electrolyte layer, which fills between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and is on the electrochromic layer,

the at least one support comprising a resin substrate, and the laminated body having a desired curve formed by thermoforming.