Electrochromic element comprising an organic, oxidative color-forming layer and an inorganic, reductive color-forming layer

• US 4,750,816 A
• Filed: 05/01/1986
• Issued: 06/14/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mori, Taskaaki, Ito, Toshiyasu, Kato, Mamoru, Takahashi, Shigeyuki, Minoura, Jun, Okabayashi, Katsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/858,033
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 350/357
• US Class Current: 359/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/10 for dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

There is disclosed an electrochromic element in which an oxidative color-forming layer is composed of an organic material and a reductive color-forming layer is composed of an inorganic material. The electrochromic element comprises a pair of electrodes, at least one of which is transparent, the oxidative color-forming layer composed of organic materials such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, etc. and the reductive color-forming layer composed of inorganic materials such as WO₃, MoO₃, TiO₂, etc. formed between the pair of electrodes to face to each other, and an electrolytic solution or a solid or semi-solid electrolyte layer sealed between the both color-forming layers.

Claims

1. An electrochromic element comprising a pair of electrodes, at least one of which is transparent, an organic, oxidative color-forming layer and an inorganic, reductive color-forming layer formed between said pair of electrodes to face to each other, and an electrolytic solution sealed between said both color-forming layers.

2. An electrochromic element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said organic, oxidative color-forming layer is one member selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene.

3. An electrochromic element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inorganic, reductive color-forming layer is one member selected from the group consisting of WO₃, MoO₃ and TiO₂ or a mixture thereof.

4. An electrochromic element comprising a pair of electrodes, at least one of which is transparent, an organic, oxidative color-forming layer and an inorganic, reductive color-forming layer formed between said pair of electrodes to face to each other, and a solid or semi-solid electrolyte layer formed between said both color-forming layers.

5. An electrochromic element as claimed in claim 4 wherein said organic, oxidative color-forming layer is one member selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene.

6. An electrochromic element as claimed in claim 4 wherein said inorganic, reductive color-forming layer is one member selected from the group consisting of WO₃, MoO₃ and TiO₂ or a mixture thereof.