Controllably dissolving spacing member and associated electrochromic device and method for manufacturing the same

• US 7,684,103 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Veenman, Steven J., Carroll, Michelle M., Kloeppner, Leroy J., Ash, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spector; David N
• Application Number:
  US12/218,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 345/105, 359/265, 359/267, 359/268, 359/270, 359/273, 359/274
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

An electrochromic device including a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic material, and at least one cathodic material, wherein the first and second substrates are substantially uniformly spaced apart by a spacing member comprising a non-polymeric material which substantially dissolves upon association with the at least one solvent.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and

an electrochromic medium which comprises;

at least one solvent;

at least one anodic material;

at least one 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 spacing member which comprises;

a first material, wherein the first material is selected from the group comprising an electroactive material, an anodic material, a cathodic material, a non-polymeric material, a non-redox active ionic salt, a polymeric material, a solvent, a light stabilizer, a redox buffer, and combinations thereof;

wherein the first material is at least partially associated with an encapsulant, and wherein the spacing member at least substantially dissolves upon association with the at least one solvent.

2. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the spacing member is substantially spherical.

3. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulant comprises at least one of an ionic salt and a polymeric material.

4. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises at least one of a cross-linked polymer matrix, a free-standing gel, and a substantially non-weeping gel.

5. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises a redox buffer.

6. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and

an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises;

at least one solvent;

at least one anodic material; and

a spacing member positioned between the first and second substrates, wherein the spacing member comprises a cathodic material which is at least partially associated with an encapsulant, and wherein the spacing member at least substantially dissolves upon association with the at least one solvent.

7. The electrochromic device according to claim 6, wherein the spacing member is substantially spherical.

8. The electrochromic device according to claim 6, wherein the encapsulant comprises at least one of an ionic salt and a polymeric material.

9. The electrochromic device according to claim 6, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises at least one of a cross-linked polymer matrix, a free-standing gel, and a substantially non-weeping gel.

10. The electrochromic device according to claim 6, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises a redox buffer.

11. The spacing member according to claim 6, wherein the cathodic material comprises a viologen.

12. The spacing member according to claim 6, wherein the cathodic material comprises at least one of methyl viologen tetrafluoroborate, octyl viologen tetrafluoroborate, and benzyl viologen tetrafluoroborate.

13. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and

an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises;

at least one solvent;

at least one cathodic material; and

a spacing member positioned between the first and second substrates, wherein the spacing member comprises an anodic material which is at least partially associated with an encapsulant, and wherein the spacing member at least substantially dissolves upon association with the at least one solvent.

14. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the spacing member is substantially spherical.

15. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the encapsulant comprises at least one of an ionic salt and a polymeric material.

16. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises at least one of a cross-linked polymer matrix, a free-standing gel, and a substantially non-weeping gel.

17. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises a redox buffer.

18. The spacing member according to claim 13, wherein the anodic material comprises a phenazine compound.

19. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the anodic material comprises 5,10-dimethyl-5,10-dihydrophenazine.