Ternary nickel oxide materials for electrochromic devices

• US 8,995,041 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alliance For Sustainable Energy LLC, Sage Electrochromics, Inc (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Original Assignee: Alliance For Sustainable Energy LLC, Sage Electrochromics, Inc (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Inventors: Weir, Douglas Glenn John, Lin, Feng, Engtrakul, Chaiwat
• Primary Examiner(s): Spector, David N
• Application Number:
  US13/961,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20140043666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 204/192.1, 252/583
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/08 Oxides C23C14/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/3414 Metallurgical or chemical aspects of target preparation, e.g. casting, powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/3464 using more than one target C23C14/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1555 Counter electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0426 Sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/505 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Compounds having the formula Li_aEC₁M1_bM2_cO_x, wherein “a” ranges from about 0.5 to about 3; b+c ranges from about 0.1 to about 1; c/(b+c) ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.9; and wherein x is about 0.1 to about 50, are disclosed. Methods of making these compounds as well as their use in thin film materials and electrochromic devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A compound having a formula Li_aEC₁M1_bM2_cO_x, wherein “

a”

ranges from about 0.5 to about 3;

b+c ranges from about 0.1 to about 1;

c/(b+c) ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.9; and

wherein x is about 0.1 to about 50;

wherein “

EC”

is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of Ni(II) and Ni(III);

a mixture of Co(II) and Co(III);

a mixture of Ir(IV) and Ir(V); and

a mixture of Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV);

“

M1”

is selected from the group consisting of Zr(IV);

Hf(IV);

Ta(V);

Nb(V); and

W(VI); and

“

M2”

is selected from the group consisting of V(V);

Ta(V);

Mo(VI);

Nb(V);

Mn(IV);

La(III); and

Ce(IV).

2. The compound of claim 1, where x is an integer ranging from about 0.1 to about 50.

3. The compound of claim 1, where x is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 6.

4. The compound of claim 1, where “

a”

ranges from about 1 to about 2.6.

5. The compound of claim 1, where b+c ranges from about 0.2 to about 0.45.

6. The compound of claim 1, where c/(b+c) ranges from about 0.55 to about 0.75.

7. The compound of claim 1, where:

“

a”

ranges from about 1.4 to about 2.2;

b+c ranges from about 0.25 to about 0.35; and

c/(b+c) ranges from about 0.6 to about 0.7.

8. An electrochromic device comprising:

(a) a first electrode comprising one of a electrochromic layer or a counter electrode layer,

(b) a second electrode comprising other of the electrochromic layer or the counter electrode layer,

(c) an ion-conductor layer for conducting ions between the first and second electrodes,

(d) a first conductive layer, and

(e) a second conductive layer,

the first and second electrodes and the ion-conductor layer being sandwiched between the first and second conductive layers,

the counter electrode layer comprising a material having a formula Li_aEC1M1_bM2_cO_x, where

“

EC”

is an electrochromic metal species,

“

M1”

is a host-oxide metal species, and

“

M2”

is a dopant oxide metal species, and

“

a”

ranges from about 0.5 to about 3;

b+c ranges from about 0.1 to about 1;

c/(b+c) ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.9; and

wherein x is about 0.1 to about 50.

9. The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein “

EC”

is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of Ni(II) and Ni(III);

a mixture of Co(II) and Co(III);

a mixture of Ir(IV) and Ir(V); and

a mixture of Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV).

10. The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein “

M1”

is selected from the group consisting of Zr(IV);

Hf(IV);

Ta(V);

Nb(V); and

W(VI).

11. The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein “

M2”

is selected from the group consisting of V(V);

Ta(V);

Mo(VI);

Nb(V);

Mn(IV);

La(III);

or Ce(IV).

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the counter electrode layer comprises Li_1.82NiW_0.45O_x, and wherein x ranges from about 0.1 to about 50.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the counter electrode layer comprises Li_1.97NiZr_0.23O_x, and wherein x ranges from about 0.1 to about 50.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the counter electrode layer comprises Li_0.51NiZr_0.16La_0.19O_x, and wherein x ranges from about 0.1 to about 50.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein the counter electrode layer comprises Li_2.22NiZr_0.14Mo_0.25O_x, and wherein x ranges from about 0.1 to about 50.

16. The device of claim 8, wherein the counter electrode layer comprises Li_3.12NiZr_0.15Ta_0.15O_x, and wherein x ranges from about 0.1 to about 50.

17. The device of claim 8, wherein the counter electrode layer comprises Li_2.65NiZr_0.18V_0.60O_x, and wherein x ranges from about 0.1 to about 50.

18. An electrochromic device comprising a substrate and at least one thin film layer, wherein the thin film layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of Li_1.82NiW_0.45O_x;

Li_1.97NiZr_0.23O_x;

Li_0.51NiZr_0.16La_0.19O_x;

Li_2.22NiZr_0.14Mo_0.25O_x;

Li_3.12NiZr_0.15Ta_0.15O_x; and

Li_2.65NiZr_0.18V_0.60O_x, wherein x ranges from about 0.1 to about 50.

19. The electrochromic device of claim 18, wherein x ranges from about 1 to about 6.

20. The electrochromic device of claim 18, wherein x ranges from about 1.6 to about 5.4.