Solid polymer electrolyte for electrochromic devices

• US 10,597,518 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Furcifer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Furcifer, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Chao, Zhou, Yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James C.
• Application Number:
  US15/487,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20170299932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 359265
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/18 Oxygen-containing compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/315 Compounds containing carbon-to-nitrogen triple bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/122 Ionic conductors

Abstract

The disclosure relates generally to a solid polymer electrolyte for use in electrochromic devices. The solid polymer electrolyte may include a polymer framework, at least one solid plasticizer, and at least one electrolyte salt.

Claims

1. A solid polymer electrolyte, comprising:

a polymer framework comprising a polar polymer material;

at least one solid oligomeric plasticizer selected from the group consisting of;

glutaronitrile, succinonitrile, adiponitrile, fumaronitrile, and combinations thereof; and

at least one electrolyte salt,

wherein the polar polymer material is in a range from 15 wt. % to about 80 wt. %; and

wherein the at least one electrolyte salt is in a range from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %.

2. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the polar polymer material has an average molecular weight of about 10,000 Daltons or greater.

3. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the polar polymer material comprises one or more of:

C, N, F, O, H, P, and F.

4. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the polar polymer material is selected from the group consisting of:

polyethylene oxide, poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyvinyl nitrile, and combinations thereof.

5. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the at least one solid oligomeric plasticizer comprises an organic material substantially miscible with the polymer framework.

6. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the at least one solid oligomeric plasticizer comprises an oligomeric polymer material substantially miscible with the polymer framework.

7. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein a total amount of the solid oligomeric plasticizer is in a range from about 20 wt. % to about 80 wt. %.

8. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrolyte salt comprises an organic salt.

9. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrolyte salt comprises an inorganic salt.

10. The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrolyte salt is selected from the group consisting of:

LiTFSI, LiPF₆, LiBF₄, LiCIO₄, LiCF₃SO₃, LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂, LiSbF₆, LiAsF₆, LiN(CF₃CF₂SO₂)₂, (C₂H₅)₄NBF₄, (C₂H₅)₃CH₃NBF₄, LiI, and combinations thereof.

11. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

an electrochromic material deposited on at least the first electrode; and

a solid polymer electrolyte disposed between the electrochromic material and the second electrode, wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises a polymer framework, at least one solid oligomeric plasticizer selected from the group consisting of;

glutaronitrile, succinonitrile, adiponitrile, fumaronitrile, and combinations thereof, and at least one electrolyte salt;

wherein the polar polymer material is in a range from 15 wt. % to about 80 wt. %; and

wherein the at least one electrolyte salt is in a range from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %.

12. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein the polymer framework comprises a polar polymer material having an average molecular weight of about 10,000 Daltons or greater.

13. The electrochromic device of claim 12, wherein a total amount of the polar polymer material is in a range from about 15 wt. % to about 80 wt. % based on a total weight of the solid polymer electrolyte.

14. The electrochromic device of claim 12, wherein the polar polymer material is selected from the group consisting of:

polyethylene oxide, poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyvinyl nitrile, and combinations thereof.

15. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one solid oligomeric plasticizer comprises an organic material substantially miscible with the polymer framework.

16. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one solid oligomeric plasticizer comprises an oligomeric polymer material substantially miscible with the polymer framework.

17. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein a total amount of the solid oligomeric plasticizer is in a range from about 20 wt. % to about 80 wt. % based on a total weight of the solid polymer electrolyte.

18. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrolyte salt comprises an organic salt and/or inorganic salt.

19. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrolyte salt is selected from the group consisting of:

LiTFSI, LiPF₆, LiBF₄, LiCIO₄, LiCF₃SO₃, LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂, LiSbF₆, LiAsF₆, LiN(CF₃CF₂SO₂)₂, (C₂H₅)₄NBF₄, (C₂H₅)₃CH₃NBF₄, LiI, and combinations thereof.

20. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein the device further comprises a transparent substrate.