Electrochromic device with cationic ion exchange resin separator

• US 4,116,546 A
• Filed: 04/27/1977
• Issued: 09/26/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Leibowitz, Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Application Number:
  US05/791,536
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 350/160 R, 350/356, 340/324 M
• US Class Current: 359/274
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte

Abstract

An electrochromic display device in layered form having a first transparent substrate with a selectively actuable transparent electrode thereon and a first electrochromic layer on said transparent electrode, in combination with a counterelectrode having a second electrochromic layer thereon, and a solid electrolyte-separator layer between said first and said second electrochromic layers, said electrolyte-separator being comprised of a cationic ion exchange resin, specifically, a membrane of the acid form of a soluble polystyrene sulfonic acid polymer chemically wetted with water.

Claims

1. An electrochromic display device comprising in layered form, a first transparent substrate with a selectively actuatable transparent electrode thereon and a first electrochromic layer on said transparent electrode, a counterelectrode having a second electrochromic layer thereon, with an electrolyte-separator layer between said electrochromic layers, wherein the improvement comprises a solid electrolyte-separator comprised of a soluble polymer cationic ion exchange resin in the acid form, chemically wetted.

2. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said resin comprises a soluble polystyrene sulfonic acid polymer cationic ion exchange resin.

3. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first electrochromic layer comprises tungsten (VI) oxide, and said second electrochromic layer comprises tungsten oxide heat treated in a hydrogen or forming gas atmosphere.

4. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first electrochromic layer comprises tungsten (VI) oxide and said second electrochromic layer comprises tungsten surface oxidized and heat treated in a hydrogen or forming gas atmosphere.

5. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the thicknesses of said first electrochromic layer said said second electrochromic layer are on the ratio of 1:

5 at least.

6. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the thicknesses of said first electrochromic layer and said second electrochromic layer are on the ratio of 1:

5 at least.

7. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said electrolyte-separator layer has an opacifying agent incorporated therein, and is chemically wetted with water.

8. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said electrolyte-separator layer has an opacifying agent incorporated therein, and is chemically wetted with an aqueous solution of said soluble polystyrene resin.

9. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said electrolyte-separator layer has an opacifying agent incorporated therein, and is chemically wetted with water.

10. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said electrolyte-separator layer has an opacifying agent incorporated therein, and is chemically wetted with an aqueous solution of said soluble polystyrene resin.

11. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said electrolyte-separator layer has an opacifying agent incorporated therein, and is chemically wetted with water.

12. An electrochromic display device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said electrolyte-separator layer has an opacifying agent incorporated therein, and is chemically wetted with an aqueous solution of said soluble polystyrene resin.