All-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device and optical switchable component using it

• US 20070076288A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Government of Japan), Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Government of Japan), Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Kazuki, Okada, Jun, Yamada, Yasusei, Tajima, Kazuki, Kumazawa, Kinya, Ogawa, Hirosumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/34 Metal hydrides materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective

Abstract

The present invention provides an all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device and a reflection-controlable member using that device, and the present invention relates to the all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device, which is a reflection-controlable device in which a multilayer thin film is formed on a transparent base material, wherein, at least a transparent conductive film layer, an ion storage layer, a solid electrolyte layer, a catalyst layer and a reflection-controlable layer using a magnesium-nickel based alloy thin film are formed on the base material; and, a reflection-controlable member incorporating this reflection-controlable electrochromic device, and it is possible to provide a reflection-controlable electrochromic device, having a novel multilayer structure with high transmissivity when transparent and capable of switching in a short period of time over a large surface area, and a reflection-controlable member incorporating this device.

Claims

1. An all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device, characterized by composed of a reflection-controlable device having a multilayer thin film formed on a transparent base material, the multilayer thin film comprising, at least a transparent conductive film layer, an ion storage layer, a solid electrolyte layer, a catalyst layer and a reflection-controlable layer using a magnesium-nickel based alloy thin film formed on the base material.

2. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a reflection-controlable action is exhibited by applying a voltage and/or applying a current between the transparent conductive film layer and the reflection-controlable layer.

3. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a transition metal oxide thin film is formed as the ion storage layer on the transparent base material coated with a transparent conductive film.

4. The all-solid-stage reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a transparent oxide thin film is formed on the ion storage layer as the solid electrolyte layer.

5. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 4, wherein the transparent oxide which constitutes the solid electrolyte layer comprises tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅)

6. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 5, wherein the density of the solid electrolyte layer is 2.8 to 4.3 g/cm³.

7. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a layer containing palladium, gold, silver or an alloy thereof is formed on the solid electrolyte layer as the catalyst layer.

8. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the magnesium-nickel based alloy thin film is formed on the catalyst layer as the reflection-controlable layer.

9. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the magnesium-nickel based alloy is MgNi_x (where 0.1≦

x≦

0.5).

10. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the ion storage layer or the reflection-controlable layer is hydrogenated during production process thereof.

11. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the device has the transparent conductive film layer between the transparent base material and the ion storage layer.

12. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the device has the transparent conductive film layer to the outside of the reflection-controlable layer as an arbitrary configuration thereof.

13. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1 or 12, wherein the surface resistance of the transparent conductive film layer is 100 Ω

/□

or less.

14. The all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to claim 1 or 12, wherein the transparent conductive film layer contains at least one type of metal thin film, oxide or organic compound having light transmission of 70% or more.

16. A reflection-controlable member, comprising the all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device according to any of claims 1 to 14 incorporated therein.

17. The reflection-controlable member according to claim 16, wherein the reflection-controlable member is glass.

15. A production process of an all-solid-state reflection-controlable electrochromic device comprising the step of forming a multilayer thin film on a transparent base material, and making a reflection-controlable layer transparent from the side closer to a solid electrolyte by suppressing proton diffusion of the solid electrolyte layer.