Electrochromic display device

• US 4,793,695 A
• Filed: 07/08/1987
• Issued: 12/27/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kidou, Hirokazu, Kawakami, Akira, Wada, Shuichi, Ohiwa, Tsunemi, Manabe, Toshikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCutcheon, Nathan W.
• Application Number:
  US07/071,174
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 350/357, 342/785
• US Class Current: 359/270
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte

Abstract

An electrochromic display device which comprises a display electrode comprising a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode formed on an inner surface of the transparent substrate and an electrochromic material layer for display made of tungstgen oxide and formed on the transparent electrode; a counter electrode comprising a substrate, a conductive layer formed on an inner surface of the substrate and an activated carbon fiber cloth bonded to the conductive layer with a conductive adhesive; and a spacer provided beween the display electrode and the counter electrode with their inner surfaces facing to each other to define, between them, an electrolyte chamber, which is filled with an electrolyte comprising LiClO₄ dissolved in propylene carbonate containing water and an acid, which device has an increased original injected charge and good maintenance of the injected charge after prolonged storage.

Claims

1. An electrochromic display device which comprises:

a display electrode comprising a transparent first substrate which has an inner surface, a transparent electrode formed on said inner surface of said transparent first substrate, and an electrochromic material layer for display made of tungsten oxide and formed on said transparent electrode;

a counter electrode comprising a second substrate which has an inner surface that faces said inner surface of said transparent first substrate, a conductive layer formed on said inner surface of said second substrate, and an activated carbon fiber cloth bonded to said conductive layer with a conductive adhesive; and

a spacer means provided between said display electrode and said counter electrode so as to define an electrolyte chamber, which is filled with an electrolyte comprising LiClO₄ dissolved in propylene carbonate and containing water and an acid.

2. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein said acid is acetic acid or propionic acid.

3. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said water and acid is contained in said electrolyte in an amount of from 0.3 to 2.0% by volume based on the whole volume of said electrolyte.

4. The electrochromic display device according to claim 3, wherein each of said water and acid is contained in said electrolyte in an amount of from 0.5 to 1.5% by volume based on the whole volume of said electrolyte.

5. The electrochromic display device according to claim 4, wherein each of said water and acid is contained in said electrolyte in an amount of from 0.7 to 1.2% by volume based on the whole volume of said electrolyte.

6. The electrochromic display device according to claim 3, wherein said water and acid are contained in said electrolyte in substantially the same amounts.

7. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of LiClO₄ in said electrolyte is an amount of from 0.5 to 1.5 mole/liter.

8. The electrochromic display device according to claim 5, wherein said water and acid are contained in said electrolyte in substantially the same amounts.

9. The electrochromic display device according to claim 2, wherein each of said water and acid is contained in said electrolyte in an amount of from 0.3 to 2.0% by volume based on the whole volume of said electrolyte, and wherein said transparent electrode comprises indium-tin oxide or SnO₂, said conductive layer comprises an electrically conductive noble metal or metal oxide, and said conductive adhesive comprises a binder and electrically conductive particles.

10. The electrochromic display device according to claim 9, wherein said device further comprises a reflector provided between said display electrode and said counter electrode, and wherein the concentration of LiClO₄ in said electrolyte is an amount of from 0.5 to 1.5 mole/liter.

11. The electrochromic display device according to claim 10, wherein said transparent electrode comprises indium-tin oxide, said transparent first substrate and said second substrate comprise glass, and said reflector comprises a mixture of titanium oxide pigment and polytetrafluoroethylene.

12. The electrochromic display device according to claim 11, further comprising first and second electrical leads operatively connected to said transparent first substrate and second substrate, and a conductive coating for electrically connecting said second lead and said conductive layer.

13. The electrochromic display device according to claim 12, wherein said transparent electrode has a thickness of from 1,000 to 3,000 angstroms and said electrochromic material layer has a thickness of from 3,000 to 7,000 angstroms.