Class of charge-actuated chromogenic structures based on the oxidation and reduction of optical switchable materials in a thin-film electrochemical cell

• US 7,554,713 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, R. Stanley, Zhang, Xiao-An
• Primary Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, JOSEPH P
• Application Number:
  US10/696,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/270, 359/273, 345/49, 345/105, 348/817
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions

Abstract

An electrochemically-activated optical switch is provided, comprising a molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes. The molecular system includes a moiety that is oxidizable or reducible in the presence of an electric current.

Claims

1. A molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes, said molecular system including at least one organic non-polymeric molecule that changes color when oxidized or reduced by an electric current.

2. The molecular system of claim 1 wherein said organic non-polymeric molecule comprises a substituted tetrazole.

3. The molecular system of claim 2 wherein said substituted tetrazole is represented by the formula

where R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently H, alkyls, or aryls and the ring carbon is in the 3-position.

4. The molecular system of claim 3 wherein any two of R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are alkyls and/or aryls, and the remainder hydrogen.

5. The molecular system of claim 3 wherein the ring carbon is in the 2-position.

6. The molecular system of claim 3 wherein said molecular system comprises:

wherein (I) is purple and has a Δ

E_HOMO/LUMO=2 eV and wherein (II) is colorless and has a Δ

E_HOMO/LUMO>

3.5 eV.

7. The molecular system of claim 3 wherein said molecular system comprises:

wherein (III) is blue and as a Δ

E_HOMO/LUMO=1.85 eV, wherein (IV) is magenta and has a Δ

E_HOMO/LUMO=2.35 eV, and wherein (V) is colorless and has a Δ

E_HOMO/LUMO>

3.5 eV.