Color-stabilized electrochromic devices
First Claim
1. An electrochromic device, comprising:
- (a) at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and
(b) an electrochromic medium having a predetermined color while in a high transmission state, wherein the electrochromic medium comprises;
(1) an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic;
(2) a redox buffer; and
(3) means associated with the redox buffer for controllably maintaining the predetermined color of the electrochromic medium while in the high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the redox buffer.
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Abstract
An electrochromic device comprising: (a) at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and (b) an electrochromic medium having a predetermined color while in a high transmission state, wherein the electrochromic medium comprises: (1) an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; (2) a redox buffer; and (3) means associated with the redox buffer for controllably maintaining the predetermined color of the electrochromic medium while in the high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the redox buffer.
181 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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(a) at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and
(b) an electrochromic medium having a predetermined color while in a high transmission state, wherein the electrochromic medium comprises;
(1) an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic;
(2) a redox buffer; and
(3) means associated with the redox buffer for controllably maintaining the predetermined color of the electrochromic medium while in the high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the redox buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
wherein X1-X4 are the same or different and comprise O, C(CN)2, S, N(R7), or N+(R7)(R8);
wherein R1-R8 are the same or different and comprise H, a halide, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or alkoxy group containing approximately 1 to approximately 12 carbon atoms; and
wherein R1-R2, R3-R4, and/or R7-R8 may be associated with a substituted or unsubstituted benzo group, a closed ring, or form a partially saturated ring.
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7. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by the formula:
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wherein X1-X2 are the same or different and comprise O, C(CN)2, S, N(R7), or N+(R7)(R8);
wherein R1-R4 and R7-R8 are the same or different and comprise H, a halide, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or alkoxy group containing approximately 1 to approximately 12 carbon atoms; and
wherein R1-R2, R2-R3, R3-R4, and/or R7-R8 may be associated with a substituted or unsubstituted benzo group, a closed ring, or form a partially saturated ring.
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8. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by the formula:
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wherein Y1 comprises O+, N+(R12), or S+;
wherein R9 and R11-R12 are the same or different and comprise H, a halide, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or alkoxy group containing approximately 1 to approximately 12 carbon atoms, or CF3;
wherein R10 comprises H, a halide, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or alkoxy group containing approximately 1 to approximately 12 carbon atoms, CF3, or wherein Y2 comprises O+, N+(R12), or S+.
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9. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by at least one of the formulae:
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wherein X1-X4 are the same or different and comprise O, C(CN)2, S, N(R7), or N+(R7)(R8);
wherein R1-R8 are the same or different and comprise H, a halide, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or alkoxy group containing approximately 1 to approximately 12 carbon atoms;
wherein R1-R2, R3-R4, and/or R7-R8 may be associated with a substituted or unsubstituted benzo group, a closed ring, or form a partially saturated ring; and
wherein M1-M4 are the same or different and comprise H+, Li+, Na+, K+, N+R4, ½
Be2+, ½
Mg2+, ½
Ca2+, or ½
Sr2+.
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10. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by the formula:
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wherein X1-X2 are the same or different and comprise O, C(CN)2, S, N(R7), or N+(R7)(R8);
wherein R1-R4 and R7-R8 are the same or different and comprise H, a halide, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or alkoxy group containing approximately 1 to approximately 12 carbon atoms;
wherein R1-R2, R2-R3, R3-R4, and/or R7-R8 may be associated with a substituted or unsubstituted benzo group, a closed ring, or form a partially saturated ring; and
wherein M1-M2 are the same or different and comprise H+, Li+, Na+, K+, N+R4, ½
Be2+, ½
Mg2+, ½
Ca2+, or ½
Sr2+.
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11. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by the formula:
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wherein Y1-Y2 comprises O+, N(R12), or S; and
wherein R1-R4 and R12 are the same or different and comprise H, a halide, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or alkoxy group containing approximately 1 to approximately 12 carbon atoms, or CF3.
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12. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by at least one of the formulae:
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13. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by at least one of the formulae:
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14. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is represented by at least one of the formulae:
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15. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined color of the electrochromic medium is selected from the group comprising colorless, nearly colorless, or intentionally colored.
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16. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the redox buffer is coupled to at least one of the anodic material and the cathodic material.
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17. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the redox buffer ranges from approximately 0.01 mM to approximately 10 mM.
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18. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the cathodic material comprises a viologen salt.
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19. The electrochromic device according to claim 18, wherein the concentration of the cathodic material ranges from approximately 1 mM to approximately 500 mM.
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20. The electrochromic device according to claim 19, wherein the concentration of the cathodic material ranges from approximately 5 mM to approximately 50 mM.
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21. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the cathodic material comprises tungsten oxide.
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22. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the anodic material is selected from the group comprising ferrocene, substituted ferrocenes, substituted ferrocenyl salts, substituted phenazines, phenothiazine, substituted phenothiazines, thianthrene, substituted thianthrenes, and mixtures thereof.
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23. The electrochromic device according to claim 22, wherein the anodic material is selected from the group comprising di-tert-butyl-diethylferrocene, (6-(tetra-tert-butylferrocenyl)hexyl)triethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, (6-(tetra-tert-butylferrocenyl)-propyl)triethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, 3,7,10-trimethylphenothiazine, 2,3,7,8-tetramethoxythianthrene, 10-methylphenothiazine, and mixtures thereof.
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24. The electrochromic device according to claim 23, wherein the concentration of the anodic material ranges from approximately 1 mM to approximately 500 mM.
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25. The electrochromic device according to claim 24, wherein the concentration of the anodic material ranges from approximately 5 mM to approximately 50 mM.
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26. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, further comprising a second substrate.
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27. The electrochromic device according to claim 26, wherein the device is an electrochromic window.
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28. The electrochromic device according to claim 26, wherein the second substrate is plated with a reflective material.
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29. The electrochromic device according to claim 28, wherein the reflective material is selected from the group comprising chromium, rhodium, ruthenium, silver, alloys of the same, and mixtures thereof.
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30. The electrochromic device according to claim 29, wherein the device is a vehicular electrochromic mirror.
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31. An electrochromic medium having a predetermined color while in a high transmission state, comprising:
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(a) an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic;
(b) a redox buffer; and
(c) means associated with the redox buffer for controllably maintaining the predetermined color of the electrochromic medium while in the high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the redox buffer.
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32. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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(a) at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and
(b) an electrochromic medium having a predetermined color while in a high transmission state, wherein the electrochromic medium comprises;
(1) an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; and
(2) a redox buffer, wherein the redox buffer controllably maintains the predetermined color of the electrochromic medium while in the high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the redox buffer.
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33. An electrochromic medium having a predetermined color while in a high transmission state, comprising:
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(a) an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; and
(b) a redox buffer, wherein the redox buffer controllably maintains the predetermined color of the electrochromic medium while in the high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the redox buffer.
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34. An electrochromic process comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an electrochromic medium which includes an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, and a redox buffer;
(b) cycling the electrochromic medium between a high transmission state and a low transmission state; and
(c) controllably maintaining a predetermined color of the electrochromic medium during said high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the redox buffer.
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Specification