Protonic, conductive, electrolytic materials

• US 5,507,965 A
• Filed: 02/23/1995
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
• Inventors: Le Couviour, Didier, Padoy, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diamond,. Alan D.
• Application Number:
  US08/393,364
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 252/62.2, 252/501.1, 252/517, 252/301.18, 252/301.35, 252/301.36, 252/500, 252/521, 429/192, 429/203, 429/193, 359/270, 359/265
• US Class Current: 252/62.2
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/327 containing phosphorus
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/32 Phosphorus-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/36 Silica
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/50 Phosphorus bound to carbon only
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/02 Polyalkylene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/181 with polymeric electrolytes

Abstract

Protonic, conductive, macromolecular materials comprising a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene and also having an antioxidizing agent and/or a thixotropic agent are useful as an electrolyte in electrochromic systems, particularly systems fitted in the vertical position.

Claims

1. A protonic, conductive, macromolecular material, comprising:

(a) a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, and (b) an antioxidant.

2. The macromolecular material of claim 1, wherein said antioxidant is triphenyl phosphine, tritolyl phosphine or trixylyl phosphine.

3. The macromolecular material of claim 1, wherein said antioxidant is present in an amount between 0.5 to 3 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

4. The macromolecular complex of claim 1, wherein said antioxidant is present in an amount between 1 and 1.25 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

5. A protonic, conductive, macromolecular material, comprising:

(a) a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, and (b) 3 to 20 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, of a thixotropic agent.

6. The macromolecular material of claim 5, wherein said thixotropic agent is a hydrophilic fumed pyrogenic reacted silica.

7. The macromolecular material of claim 6, wherein said thixotropic agent is present in an amount between 8 and 16 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

8. The macromolecular material of claim 5, wherein said thixotropic agent is a hydrophobic, fumed pyrogenic reacted silica, modified by silanes.

9. The macromolecular material of claim 8, wherein said thixotropic agent is present in an amount between 4 and 10 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

10. The macromolecular material of claim 8, wherein said thixotropic agent is present in an amount between 6 and 8 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

11. The macromolecular material of claim 9, characterized in that it is in the form of self-supported sheets.

12. A protonic, conductive, macromolecular material, comprising:

(a) a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene;

(b) an antioxidant; and

(c) 3 to 20 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, of a thixotropic agent.

13. The macromolecular material of claim 12, wherein said antioxidant is triphenyl phosphine, tritolyl phosphine or trixylyl phosphine.

14. The macromolecular material of claim 12, wherein said antioxidant is present in an amount between 0.5 to 3 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

15. The macromolecular complex of claim 12, wherein said antioxidant is present in an amount between 1 and 1.25 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

16. The macromolecular material of claim 12, wherein said thixotropic agent is a hydrophilic fumed pyrogenic reacted silica.

17. The macromolecular material of claim 12, wherein said thixotropic agent is hydrophilic and is present in an amount between 8 and 16 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

18. The macromolecular material of claim 12, wherein said thixotropic agent is a hydrophobic, fumed pyrogenic reacted silica, modified by silanes.

19. The macromolecular material of claim 12, wherein said thixotropic agent is hydrophobic and is present in an amount between 4 and 10 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

20. The macromolecular material of claim 12, wherein said thixotropic agent is hydrophobic and is present in an amount between 6 and 8 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene.

21. A macromolecular material, comprising:

(a) a solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, (b) 8 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, of hydrophobic, fumed pyrogenic reacted silica, and (c) about 1 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, of triphenyl phosphine.

22. A process for the treatment of a protonic, conductive, macromolecular material, said material comprising:

(a) a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene; and

(b) an antioxidant, said process comprising drying said macromolecular material at a temperature between 90° and

120°

C. for 1 to 3 hours.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein said drying is carried out at a temperature between 100°

and 110°

C.

24. A process for the treatment of a protonic, conductive, macromolecular material, said material comprising:

(a) a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene; and

(b) 3 to 20 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, of a thixotropic agent, said process comprising drying said macromolecular material at a temperature between 90° and

120°

C. for 1 to 3 hours.

25. The process of claim 24, wherein said drying is carried out at a temperature between 100°

and 110°

C.

26. An electrochromic system, comprising an oxide of a transition metal in contact with a solid electrolyte, wherein said solid electrolyte is a protonic, conductive, macromolecular material, comprising:

(a) a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, and (b) an antioxidant.

27. The electrochromic system of claim 26, installed in a vertical position.

28. An electrochromic system, comprising an oxide of a transition metal in contact with a solid electrolyte, wherein said solid electrolyte is a protonic, conductive, macromolecular material, comprising:

(a) a solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, and (b) 3 to 20 wt. %, based on the weight of said solid complex of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid and polyoxyethylene, of a thixotropic agent.

29. The electrochromic system of claim 28, installed in a vertical position.