Adhesive ion-conducting layer for flexible electrochromic devices

• US 7,414,771 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chameleon Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chameleon Optics, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben; Loha
• Application Number:
  US11/462,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359/245, 359/591, 345105-107, 428/426, 428/522, 428/702, 428/193, 428/332, 428/457, 428/432, 428/442, 429/44, 429/305, 429/309, 429/310, 429/316, 604/20, 264/104, 264/105, 600/391, 600/396, 600/459, 524/377, 514/329, 514/946, 514/947, 424/449
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31649 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

A flexible electrochromic device is disclosed, the device including a flexible substrate with at least one electrically conductive surface, and an adhesive ion-conducting layer including a) a polymer binder selected from the group of polyvinylpyrrolidone and copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, and b) a source of mobile cations, e.g., alkali metal salts, acids, polyelectrolytes and polyacids, wherein the device is capable of being deformed and returned to “flatness” in an undamaged state.

Claims

1. A flexible electrochromic device comprising:

(a) a flexible substrate with at least one electrically conductive surface;

(b) an electrochromic layer in contact with the at least one electrically conductive surface; and

(c) an adhesive ion-conducting layer in contact with the electrochromic layer, said adhesive ion-conducting layer including (1) a polymer binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, and (2) a source of cations,

wherein said device is capable of being deformed and returned to flatness in an undamaged state.

2. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said polymer binder is poly 1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate.

3. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the source of cations is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, acids, polyelectrolytes and polyacids.

4. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 3,

wherein the source of cations is LiClO₄.

5. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the flexible substrate is metal.

6. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 5,

wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, steel, nickel, aluminum, iron, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, indium, tin, and chromium.

7. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the flexible substrate is plastic.

8. The flexible substrate as recited in claim 7, wherein the plastic is deposited on at least one side with an electrically conductive layer.

9. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 8,

wherein at least one electrically conductive layer is patterned.

10. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the flexible substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.

11. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 10,

wherein the polyethylene terephthalate is deposited on at least one side with an electrically conductive layer.

12. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 10,

wherein the polyethylene terephthalate is deposited on at least one side with indium tin oxide.

13. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the flexible substrate is fabric.

14. The flexible electrochromic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the flexible substrate is polycarbonate.