Tape for use in manufacturing electrochromic devices

• US 5,825,526 A
• Filed: 04/24/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Bommarito, Silvia L., Hardy, L. Charles, Lugg, Paul S., Cullen, Peter F., Chen, Kejian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US08/639,019
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/268-270, 359/273, 359/274, 359/275
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/00 Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin fibrous or filamentary layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/02; particulate layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/16; foamed layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements

Abstract

A tape that includes an electronically conductive flexible substrate, a release layer, and an adhesive comprising an ion-intercalating material, and electrochromic devices and glazing units prepared using this tape.

Claims

1. A tape comprising an electronically conductive flexible substrate, a release element selected from the group consisting of removable release layers and low surface energy coatings, and an adhesive comprising an ion-intercalating material,

wherein when the adhesive of said tape is laminated to a second electronically conductive substrate comprising a second ion-intercalating material to form an electrochromic device, the device is capable of undergoing a visible change in transmission or reflectance upon application of a voltage.

2. A tape according to claim 1 wherein said ion-intercalating material is disposed between said substrate and said release layer.

3. A tape according to claim 1 wherein said release element comprises a low surface energy coating provided on one face of said substrate, said ion-intercalating material being provided on the opposing face of said substrate.

4. A tape according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

5. A tape according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive comprises an electrochromic material.

6. A tape according to claim 5 wherein said adhesive further comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte.

7. A tape according to claim 5 wherein said electrochromic material comprises WO₃.

8. A tape according to claim 1 wherein said flexible substrate comprises polyethylene terephthalate provided with a transparent conductor.

9. A tape according to claim 1 wherein said flexible substrate comprises a reflective substrate.

10. A tape according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive comprises an ion-storage material.

11. A tape according to claim 10 wherein said adhesive further comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte.

12. A tape according to claim 10 wherein said ion-storage material comprises V₂ O₅.

13. A method of assembling an electrochromic device comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a tape comprising an electronically conductive flexible substrate, a release element selected from the group consisting of removable release layers and low surface energy coatings, and an adhesive comprising a first ion-intercalating material;

(b) contacting a second electronically conductive substrate comprising a second ion-intercalating material with the adhesive of said tape,

one of said ion-intercalating materials comprising an electrochromic material and the other of said ion-intercalating materials comprising an ion-storage material; and

(c) laminating said tape and said second electronically conductive substrate together.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said second substrate comprises a rigid substrate.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein said second substrate comprises a glass substrate provided with a transparent conductor.

16. A method according to claim 13 wherein said adhesive comprises an ion-intercalating material comprising an electrochromic material.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said adhesive further comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein said ion-intercalating electrochromic material comprises WO₃.

19. A method according to claim 13 wherein said adhesive comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte and an ion-intercalating material comprising an electrochromic material, and said second substrate comprises an ion-intercalating material comprising an ion-storage material.

20. A method according to claim 13 wherein said adhesive comprises an ion-intercalating material comprising an ion-storage material.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein said adhesive further comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte.

22. A method according to claim 13 wherein said ion-intercalating ion-storage material comprises V₂ O₅.

23. A method according to claim 20 wherein said adhesive comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte and an ion-intercalating material comprising an ion-storage material, and said second substrate comprises an ion-intercalating material comprising an electrochromic material.

24. An electrochromic device comprising an ion-intercalating electrochromic material and an ion-intercalating ion-storage material separated by an ion-conducting electrolyte and disposed between (a) a rigid, electronically conductive substrate comprising (i) a rigid layer and (ii) a transparent electronic conductor deposited on said rigid layer and (b) a flexible, electronically conductive substrate,

at least one of said electrochromic material, said ion-storage material, and said electrolyte being provided in the form of an adhesive.

25. An electrochromic device according to claim 24 wherein said electrolyte comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte in the form of an adhesive.

26. A glazing unit comprising:

(a) an electrochromic device comprising an ion-intercalating electrochromic material and an ion-intercalating ion-storage material separated from each other by an ion-conducting electrolyte,

at least one of said electrochromic material, said ion-storage material, and said electrolyte being provided in the form of an adhesive,

said device being disposed between (a) a rigid, electronically conductive substrate comprising (i) a rigid layer and (ii) a transparent electronic conductor deposited on said rigid layer and (b) a flexible, electronically conductive substrate, both of said substrates being electronically conductive; and

(b) a second rigid, transparent substrate adjacent said flexible transparent substrate.

27. A glazing unit according to claim 26 further comprising a third rigid, transparent substrate spaced apart from said first rigid, transparent substrate or said second rigid, transparent substrate to define a thermal break.

28. A glazing unit according to claim 26 wherein said electrolyte comprises an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte in the form of an adhesive.