Multi-Cell Solid-State Electrochromic Device

• US 20090323155A1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Soladigm, Inc.
• Inventors: Phillips, Roger W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1557 Side by side arrangements of working and counter electrodes

Abstract

A multi-cell electrochromic device comprises a plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells that are arranged in an optical alignment. Each electrochromic cell is separated from an adjacent electrochromic cell in the optical alignment by a transparent conductive layer that is shared by the two adjacent electrochromic cells.

Claims

1. A multi-cell electrochromic device, comprising a plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells arranged in an optical alignment, each electrochromic cell being separated from an adjacent electrochromic cell in the optical alignment by a transparent conductive layer that is shared by the two adjacent electrochromic cells.

2. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a first electrochromic cell comprises:

a first transparent conductive layer;

a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;

an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

the shared transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer.

3. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the shared transparent conductive layer comprises at least one ion blocking layers.

4. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colored when a negative voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.

5. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colorless when a positive voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.

6. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 2, further comprising a second electrochromic cell comprising:

an electrochromic layer formed in direct contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer;

a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

a second transparent conductive layer formed in direct contact with counter electrode layer.

7. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 6, wherein each electrochromic layer comprises one of tungsten oxide WO₃, vanadium oxide V₂O₅, niobium oxide Nb₂O₃ and iridium oxide IrO₂,

wherein each counter electrode layer comprises one of nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, and iridium oxide IrO₂, and

wherein each ion conductor layer comprises one of silicon oxide SiO₂, titanium oxide TiO₂, aluminum oxide Al₂O₃, and tantalum oxide Ta₂O₅.

8. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, and the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising at least one of H+, Li+ and Na+

9. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 7, further comprising a first voltage applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the shared transparent conductive layer;

and

a second voltage applied between the shared transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer.

10. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second voltages differ from each other.

11. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 9, wherein the first and the second voltages are substantially the same voltages.

12. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 2, further comprising a second electrochromic cell comprising:

a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;

an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

a second transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer.

13. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 9, wherein each electrochromic layer comprises one of tungsten oxide WO₃, vanadium oxide V₂O₅, niobium oxide Nb₂O₃ and iridium oxide IrO₂,

wherein each counter electrode layer comprises one of nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, and iridium oxide IrO₂, and

wherein each ion conductor layer comprises one of silicon oxide SiO₂, titanium oxide TiO₂, aluminum oxide Al₂O₃, and tantalum oxide Ta₂O₅.

14. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, and the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising at least one of H+, Li+ and Na+

15. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 13, further comprising a voltage applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer.

16. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a first electrochromic cell comprises:

a first transparent conductive layer;

an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer;

a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

the shared transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer.

17. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 16, wherein the shared transparent conductive layer comprises at least one ion blocking layers.

18. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 16, further comprising a second electrochromic cell comprising:

a counter electrode layer formed in direct contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;

an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

a second transparent conductive layer formed in direct contact with electrochromic layer.

19. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 18, wherein each electrochromic layer comprises one of tungsten oxide WO₃, vanadium oxide V₂O₅, niobium oxide Nb₂O₃ and iridium oxide IrO₂,

wherein each counter electrode layer comprises one of nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, and iridium oxide IrO₂, and

wherein each ion conductor layer comprises one of silicon oxide SiO₂, titanium oxide TiO₂, aluminum oxide Al₂O₃, and tantalum oxide Ta₂O₅.

20. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, and the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising at least one of H+, Li+ and Na+

21. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 19, further comprising a first voltage applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the shared transparent conductive layer;

and

a second voltage applied between the shared transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer.

22. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 21, wherein the first and second voltages differ from each other.

23. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 21, wherein the first and the second voltages are substantially the same voltages.

24. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 16, further comprising a second electrochromic cell comprising:

an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;

an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer;

a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and

a second transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer.

25. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 24, wherein each electrochromic layer comprises one of tungsten oxide WO₃, vanadium oxide V₂O₅, niobium oxide Nb₂O₃ and iridium oxide IrO₂,

wherein each counter electrode layer comprises one of nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, and iridium oxide IrO₂, and

wherein each ion conductor layer comprises one of silicon oxide SiO₂, titanium oxide TiO₂, aluminum oxide Al₂O₃, and tantalum oxide Ta₂O₅.

26. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, and the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising at least one of H+, Li+ and Na+

27. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 25, further comprising a voltage applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer.

28. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 2, further comprising a substrate, and

wherein the first transparent conductive layer is formed in contact with the substrate.