Electrochromic device

• US 9,535,306 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Inventors: Oukassi, Sami, Pantigny, Philippe, Salot, Raphal
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US14/858,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20160085126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359269-273, 359/275
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/00 Tenebrescent materials, i.e. materials for which the range of wavelengths for energy absorption is changed as a result of excitation by some form of energy
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1508 using a solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1555 Counter electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers

Abstract

An electrochromic device includes a stack successively including: a first current collector, an electrochromic electrode made of a material capable of reversibly inserting metal ions, an electrolyte, a second current collector, a reflective substrate contacting the first current collector or with the second current collector. It includes a single electrochromic electrode and has at least the two following functional states: a first absorbing functional state, induced by the application of a first electric voltage between the two current collectors, wherein the device includes metal ions reversibly inserted into the material of the electrochromic electrode; and a second reflective functional state subsequent to the application of a second electric voltage between the two current collectors, wherein a metal layer is formed between the electrolyte and the second current collector, this metal layer including at least part of the metal ions initially reversibly inserted into the material of the electrochromic electrode.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising:

a stack successively comprising;

(a) a first current collector;

(b) an electrochromic electrode made of a material capable of reversibly inserting metal ions;

(c) an electrolyte; and

(d) a second current collector, and

a reflective substrate in contact with the second current collector,

wherein the device comprises a single electrochromic electrode and has at least the two following functional states;

a first absorbing functional state, induced by the application of a first electric voltage between the two current collectors, wherein the device comprises metal ions reversibly inserted into the material of the electrochromic electrode; and

a second reflective functional state, subsequent to the application of a second electric voltage between the two current collectors, wherein a metal layer is formed between the electrolyte and the second current collector, this metal layer comprising at least part of the metal ions initially reversibly inserted into the material of the electrochromic electrode.

2. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the second current collector has a surface of contact with the electrolyte, having its surface state selected so that the metal layer formed at the interface between the electrolyte and the second current collector is absorbing.

3. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said device has intermediate functional states between the first and second functional states, by the application of appropriate intermediate voltages between the first and second electric voltages.

4. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the metal ions are selected from the group comprising:

lithium ions;

sodium ions;

magnesium ions;

silver ions; and

mixtures thereof.

5. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the metal layer has a thickness in the range from 10 to 1,000 nanometers.

6. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic electrode is made of a material selected from the group comprising:

tungsten oxide WO₃;

titanium oxides TiO_x;

tantalum oxides TaO_x;

molybdenum oxides MoO_x;

niobium oxides NbO_x;

vanadium oxide V₂O₅;

CeVO₄;

CeO₂;

CeO₂—

SiO₂; and

mixtures of these materials.

7. The electrochromic electrode of claim 1, wherein materials forming the first and the second current collectors are, independently from each other, selected from the group comprising:

copper;

aluminum;

indium tin oxide;

aluminum zinc oxide;

electrically-conductive transparent oxides;

tungsten;

molybdenum;

titanium; and

nickel.

8. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is made of a material selected from the group comprising:

lithium phosphorus oxynitride;

LiNbO₃;

LiAlF₄;

Li₃N;

lanthanum zinc tin oxide;

lithium aluminum germanium phosphate;

lithium silicon phosphorus oxynitride;

lithium oxynitride; and

lithium sulfur oxynitride.

9. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is at least partially made of a material selected from the group comprising:

glass;

sapphire;

ZnS;

ZnSe;

silicon;

germanium;

aluminum;

carbon;

polymer materials;

mica; and

ceramic.

10. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the second current collector has a structured surface of contact with the electrolyte.

11. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic electrode, the electrolyte, and the current collectors are transparent.

12. The electrochromic device of claim 1,

wherein the metal ions inserted into the electrochromic electrode material are lithium ions;

wherein the electrochromic electrode is made of WO₃ or V₂O₅;

and wherein the electrolyte is made of lithium oxynitride.

13. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein:

the metal ions inserted into the electrochromic electrode material are lithium ions,

the electrochromic electrode is made of WO3 or V2O5; and

the electrolyte is made of lithium phosphorus oxynitride.

14. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the metal layer has a thickness in the range from 100 to 500 nanometers.

15. An electrochromic device, wherein said device successively comprises:

a ceramic substrate;

a first current collector;

an LiV₂O₅ electrochromic electrode;

a LiPON electrolyte; and

a second structured current collector,

wherein the device comprises a single electrochromic electrode and has at least the two following functional states;

a first absorbing functional state, induced by the application of a first electric voltage between the two current collectors, wherein the device comprises metal ions reversibly inserted into the material of the electrochromic electrode; and

a second reflective functional state, subsequent to the application of a second electric voltage between the two current collectors, wherein a metal layer is formed between the electrolyte and the second current collector, this metal layer comprising at least part of the metal ions initially reversibly inserted into the material of the electrochromic electrode.