Electrochromic layer structure and method for the production thereof

• US 8,760,749 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Melcher, Martin, Letocart, Philippe, Bressand, Emily, Giron, Jean-Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'NEILL, GARY WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US13/377,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20120134004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-267, 359/271, 359273-275, 359/591, 296/77.1, 296/84.1, 296 9619- 9622, 296 971- 9713, 522/045, 522/045.1, 522/045.2, 522/045.3, 52205-217
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes

Abstract

An electrochromic layer structure with at least one active layer and at least two electrodes is described. At least one of the electrodes has an electrically conductive network of conductor tracks and the conductor tracks contain nanoparticles. An electrochromic device, a method for production of an electrochromic layer structure and use of an electrochromic layer structure and an electrochromic device are also described.

Claims

1. An electrochromic layer structure comprising

at least one electrochromatically active layer;

at least two electrodes; and

an electrically conductive network of conductor tracks applied on at least one of the at least two electrodes, wherein the network of conductor tracks contains nanoparticles and forms a regular rectangular arrangement of conductor tracks wherein the conductor tracks have a width of less than 10 μ

m and wherein the conductor tracks have a distance of more than 1 mm between them.

2. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductor tracks have a width of 1 μ

m to less than 10 μ

m and wherein the conductor tracks have a distance of more than 1 mm to 50 mm between them.

3. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, further comprising

at least one optically transparent protective pane,

wherein the network of conductor tracks is located between the active layer and the optically transparent protective pane.

4. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 3, wherein the optically transparent protective pane contains at least one of silicate glass, germanium, silicon, sapphire, polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, ethylene vinyl acetate, plasticized polyvinyl butyral, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, ionomers, polymethyl methacrylate, copolymers and/or combinations thereof.

5. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, further comprising

an optically transparent protective layer,

wherein the network of conductor tracks is located between the active layer and the optically transparent protective layer.

6. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 5, wherein the optically transparent protective layer has at least one of a layer of silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, zinc oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide and/or a gaseous layer containing argon, xenon, nitrogen, air, and/or mixtures thereof.

7. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 5, wherein the protective layer also has a gaseous layer volume containing argon, xenon, nitrogen, air, and/or mixtures thereof with a pressure of 1000 Pa to 200,000 Pa.

8. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, further comprising

at least one intermediate electrode located between at least two active layers,

wherein the at least one intermediate electrode has an electrically conductive network of conductor tracks, the conductor tracks containing nanoparticles.

9. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles contain silver particles and/or electrically conductive carbon.

10. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductor tracks are formed by a composite material containing the nanoparticles and plastic.

11. The electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles have a diameter of 1 nm to 500 nm, preferably of 5 nm to 100 nm.

12. An electrochromic device comprising the electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic layer structure is in electrical contact with a control unit.

13. The electrochromic device according to claim 12, wherein the layer structure is arranged on at least one transparent protective pane.

14. The electrochromic device according to claim 12, wherein the electrochromic device is a laminated glass pane.

15. The electrochromic device according to claim 12, wherein the electrochromic device is a double-insulating or multi-insulating glazing.

16. A method comprising:

using the electrochromic device according to claim 12 in a single, composite, double or multi-glazing of buildings or motor vehicles.

17. A method comprising:

using the electrochromic layer structure according to claim 1 in a single, composite, double or multi-glazing of buildings or motor vehicles.

18. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromatically active layer is designed to withstand temperatures above 70°

C.

19. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromatically active layer is an electrochromic structure with an inorganic solid electrolyte.

20. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromatically active layer includes an organic electrolyte that is in part liquid and in part solid.

21. A method for production of an electrochromic layer structure comprising at least one electrochromatically active layer and two electrodes, comprising:

forming a network of nanoparticles in the layer structure, and

heating the network of nanoparticles to form an electrically conductive network of conductor tracks, wherein the electrically conductive network of conductor tracks is applied on at least one of the at least two electrodes to form a regular rectangular arrangement of conductor tracks wherein the conductor tracks have a width of less than 10 μ

m and wherein the conductor tracks have a distance of more than 1 mm between them.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the network of nanoparticles is formed by printing methods such as screen printing, engraving cylinder printing, inkjet printing, aerosol jet printing, flexography, pulse jet printing and/or combinations thereof.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the network of nanoparticles is formed using a dispersion that includes nanoparticles and water and/or an organic solvent and/or a liquid plastic.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the network of nanoparticles is heated by thermal conduction and thermal radiation such as infrared, ultraviolet, microwave radiation, laser light, and/or combinations thereof.

25. An electrochromic layer structure comprising

at least one electrochromatically active layer;

at least two electrodes; and

an electrically conductive network of conductor tracks applied on at least one of the at least two electrodes, wherein the network of conductor tracks contains nanoparticles and wherein the conductor tracks have different electrical conductivities wherein the conductor tracks have a width of less than 10 μ

and wherein the conductor tracks have a distance of more than 1 mm between them.