Electrochromic device

• US 8,824,038 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Rene Gy
• Inventors: Giron, Jean-Christophe, Gy, Ren, Bertin-Mourot, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US13/386,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359/277, 359245-247, 359/254, 359/242, 345/49, 345/105, 250/70, 348/814, 348/817, 438/929, 349182-186
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/087 containing calcium oxide, e.g. common sheet or container glass
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/091 containing aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrochromic device including a first non-tempered glass substrate (S1), the linear thermal expansion coefficient of which is between 35 and 60·10⁻⁷/° C., said substrate (S1) being coated with a stack including at least one transparent electrically conductive layer (2, 4), an electrochromic material layer (EC2), an ion-conductive electrolyte layer (EL), and a counter electrode (EC1).

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising a first substrate of untempered glass of which the linear thermal expansion coefficient is between about 35 and about 60×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C., said substrate being coated with a stack comprising at least one transparent electro-conductive layer, a layer of an electrochromic material, a layer of an ionic electrolytic conductor and a counter-electrode, and wherein said first substrate is laminated to a second substrate substantially the same size as said first substrate, and wherein said second substrate has a linear thermal expansion coefficient between about 35 and about 60×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first glass substrate possesses a linear thermal expansion coefficient less than or equal to about 50×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C., or less than or equal to about 45×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first glass substrate has a chemical composition comprising the following, within the mass limits defined hereunder:

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first glass substrate has a chemical composition comprising the following constituents, with the mass limits defined below:

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first substrate comprises, in order, starting from an initial substrate or in the reverse order:

a transparent electro-conductive layer,

a counter-electrode,

an ionic conductive electrolyte layer,

a layer of an electrochromic material, and

a second transparent electro-conductive layer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic material is based on a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten oxide and iridium oxide.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the counter-electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, nickel, iridium, chromium, iron, cobalt, rhodium, and mixed oxides of at least two of these oxides.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises a mineral layer forming an ionic conductor that is electrically insulated.

9. A glazing for a building or vehicle partition, rear-view mirror or indicator board comprising the device of claim 1.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said mixed oxide is selected from a mixed nickel and tungsten oxide.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein a composition of said first substrate comprises the following

12. The device of claim 1, wherein a composition of said first substrate comprises the following

13. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said electrochromic device further comprises a polymer sheet between said second substrate and an upper electro-conductive layer.

14. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said stack is laminated between said first and second substrates.

15. An electrochromic device comprising a first substrate of untempered glass of which the linear thermal expansion coefficient is between about 35 and about 60×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C., said substrate being coated with a stack comprising at least one transparent electro-conductive layer, a layer of an electrochromic material, a layer of an ionic electrolytic conductor and a counter-electrode, and wherein said first substrate is strengthened by combining it with a second substrate substantially the same size as said first substrate, and wherein said second substrate has a linear thermal expansion coefficient between about 35 and about 60×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C.