Protective coating materials for electrochromic devices

• US 5,995,271 A
• Filed: 10/07/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Nada A., Hruska, Curtis Ross, Zieba, Jerry, Cumbo, Michael J., Sapers, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NAKARANI, DHIRAJLAL S
• Application Number:
  US08/946,604
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 156/99, 359/265, 359/267, 359/274, 359/275, 427/167, 427/168, 427/169, 427/240, 427/389.7, 427/428, 428/411.1, 428/412, 428/473.5
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 Of polycarbonate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31721 Of polyimide

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a polymeric coating material used to protect electrochromic devices from environmental and mechanical damage. The protective polymeric coating material in the present invention are physically, chemically and optically compatible with the electrochromic cell layers. The polymeric coating materials in the present invention are polymers having generic polymer back-bones selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polybenzimidazoles, polybenzothiazoles, polybenzoxazoles, poly(phenylene ethers), polyquinolines, polycarbonates and polysulfones.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising:

an electrochromic cell; and

a coating on the electrochromic cell, the coating comprising a polymer having a general formula selected from the group consisting of;

##STR8## wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of;

##STR9## wherein Ar¹ is selected from the group consisting of;

##STR10## wherein n is between 1 and 10;

wherein X is 0 or 1;

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of H, CF₃, C_n H_2n+1, OC_n H_2n+1 and mixtures thereof; and

wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of H, CF₃, C_n H_2n+1, OC_n H_2n +1, -phenyl, fluorenyl, naphtalenyl and mixtures thereof.

2. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer has the following recurring structural unit [Poly[2,5-benzoxazolediyl[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]-5,2-benzoxazolediyl-4,4'"'"'-phenylether]]n'"'"', wherein n'"'"' is a integer number.

3. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer has the following recurring structural unit [α

-[1,4-Biphenylyl]-ω

-[4-[[4-(4-phenylphenoxy)phenyl]phenylphosphinyl]phenoxy]-poly[oxy-1,4-phenylene(phenylphosphinylidene)-1,4-phenyleneoxy-1,4--phenylene-9H-fluoren-9-ylidene-1,4-phenylene]]n'"'"', wherein n'"'"' is a real number.

4. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer has the following recurring structural unit [α

-[ 1,4-Biphenylyl]-ω

-[4-[[4-(4-phenylphenoxy)phenyl]phenylphosphinyl]phenoxy]-poly[oxy-1,4-phenylene(phenylphosphinylidene)-1,4-phenyleneoxy-1,4-phenylene[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]-1,4-phenylene]]n'"'"', wherein n'"'"' is a real number.

5. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic device is a transparent electrochromic device.

6. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic device is a mirror.

7. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic device has a low emissivity.

8. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the coating has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 to about 100 micrometers.

9. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the coating has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 to about 20 micrometers.

10. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic cell comprises an electrochromic layer, an ion conducting layer and a counter electrode layer.

11. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the coating is thermally stable in a range between about -50°

C. and about 150°

C.

12. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic device comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, and wherein the electrochromic device comprises a first substrate on the bottom portion;

wherein the electrochromic device further comprises a second substrate on the top portion of the electrochromic device.

13. An electrochromic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the second substrate is a glass substrate.

14. A process for protecting an electrochromic device from environmental and mechanical damage comprising:

providing an electrochromic cell; and

coating the electrochromic cell with a polymer having the general formula selected from the group consisting of;

##STR11## wherein Ar is selected from the group consisting of;

##STR12## wherein Ar¹ is selected from the group consisting of;

##STR13## wherein n is between 1 and 10;

wherein X is 0 or 1;

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of H, CF₃, C_n H_2n+1, OC_n H_2n+1 and mixtures thereof; and

wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of H, CF₃, C_n H_2n+1, OC_n H_2n+1, -phenyl, fluorenyl, naphtalenyl and mixtures thereof.

15. A process for protecting an electrochromic device from environmental and mechanical damage as recited in claim 14, further comprising annealing the coating on the electrochromic cell by heating the electrochromic device to a temperature above about 65°

C.