Electrochromic device

• US 5,521,745 A
• Filed: 01/24/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: British Technology Group Ltd.
• Original Assignee: British Technology Group Ltd.
• Inventors: Lukes, Peter J., Silver, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/140,064
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 359/270, 359/272
• US Class Current: 359/272
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1516 comprising organic material

Abstract

An electrochromic device comprises two electrodes separated by an electrolytic medium and means to permit the application of a potential between the electrodes, so as to create a circuit for charge transfer, and an electrochromic material in contact with the electrolyte and an electrode so that a change in spectral properties of the material is detectable from the exterior of the device, the electrochromic material comprising an aluminium and/or silicon containing monophthalocyanine or monotetrabenzoazaporphyrin complex.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising two electrodes separated by an electrolytic medium and means to permit the application of a potential between the electrodes, so as to create a circuit for charge transfer, and an electrochromic material in contact with the electrolyte and an electrode so that a change in spectral properties of the material is detectable from the exterior of the device, the electrochromic material comprising an aluminium and/or silicon containing monophthalocyanine or monotetrabenzoazaporphyrin complex.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the said complex is a monophthalocyanine complex.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the said complex comprises at least one inorganic ligand selected from chlorine, hydroxide or oxide.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the said complex comprises at least one organic ligand selected from acyloxy, benzyloxy, aryloxy and an anion of an organic acid.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the said complex comprises an aluminium containing oligomer.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the electrodes is of glass coated with a conducting layer selected from indium-doped tin oxide and gold.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the aluminium containing complex is applied as a thin layer covering at least the conducting portion of an electrode.

8. A device according to claim 1 comprising a solid-state or semi-solid electrolyte.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means to permit the application of a potential between the electrodes is adapted to provide a DC voltage range of from at least +1.5 to at least -1.2.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic material comprises a silicon containing monophthalocyanine or monotetrabenzoazoporphyrin complex.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the said complex is a monophthalocyanine complex.

12. A device according to claim 10 wherein the said complex comprises at least one inorganic ligand selected from chlorine, hydroxide or oxide.

13. A device according to claim 10 wherein the said complex comprises at least one organic ligand selected from acyloxy, benzyloxy, aryloxy and an anion of an organic acid.

14. A device according to claim 10 wherein the said complex comprises a silicon containing oligomer.

15. A device according to claim 10 wherein at least one of the electrodes is of glass coated with a conducting layer selected from indium-doped tin oxide and gold.

16. A device according to claim 10 wherein the silicon containing complex is applied as a thin layer covering at least the conducting portion of an electrode.

17. A device according to claim 10 comprising a solid-state or semi-solid electrolyte.

18. A device according to claim 10 wherein the means to permit the application of a potential between the electrodes is adapted to provide a DC voltage range of from at least +1.5 to at least -1.2.