Electrochromic layer-set

• US 4,973,141 A
• Filed: 10/24/1988
• Issued: 11/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
• Original Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
• Inventors: Metz, Bernd, Baucke, Friedrich G. K., Braun, Jutta
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shingleton, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US07/261,526
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 350/357, 350/353, 350/355, 350/356
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1552 Inner electrode, e.g. the electrochromic layer being sandwiched between the inner electrode and the support substrate

Abstract

An electrochromic layer-set, operating with hydrogen, comprises a transparent substrate front face plate, at least two electrodes, at least one electrochromic layer, a hydrogen ion-storing layer, a hydrogen ion-conducting layer, a rear face in sealing relationship with the layer-set, directly following one of the two electrodes, there being a metallic layer between the rear face and the layer lying in front of the rear face (the electrode) or the rear face itself is formed by this metallic layer. The side of the metallic layer turned away from the substrate plate is optionally transformed into the oxide of the metal. For the application of such a metallic layer, the layer-set and a counter-electrode are immersed in an electrolyte containing the metal ions, with the electrode lying at the rear face of the layer-set being made the negative electrode.

Claims

1. An electrochromic layer-set comprising a transparent substrate plate arranged on the front face of the layer-set, a transparent electrode, at least one electrochromic layer, a hydrogen-storing layer, a hydrogen ion-conducting layer, at least one additional electrode, a rear face in sealing relationship with the layer-set and in immediate contact with one of the two electrodes, said rear face comprising a metallic layer, said metallic layer having a posterior side facing away from the front face of the layer-set, said posterior side being in the form of an oxide of the metal, thereby increasing the sealing efficiency of the layer-set.

2. A layer-set according to claim 1, wherein said metallic layer is an electrolytically deposited metallic layer.

3. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 1, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.1 to 5 microns.

4. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 1, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.1 to 5 microns and wherein said metal is nickel or tin.

5. A process of improving the sealing of an electrochromic layer-set having a metal sealing layer, said metal layer having a posterior side facing away from the electrochromic layer-set, said process comprising oxidizing said posterior side of said metal layer.

6. An electrochromic layer-set comprising:

a transparent substrate plate arranged on the front face of the layer-set, a hydrogen ion-conducting layer, a first electrode, and an electrochromic layer arranged between said transparent substrate plate and said hydrogen ion-conducting layer; and

a hydrogen-storing layer and a second electrode separated from said first electrode and said electrochromic layer by said hydrogen ion-conducting layer;

rearward of said layers, a first catalytic metallic layer capable of absorbing molecular hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing atmosphere and decomposing said molecular hydrogen into atomic hydrogen; and

, in immediate contact with and rearward to said first catalytic layer, a second metallic layer, as a rear face hermetically sealing the layer-set, said second metallic layer being an electrolytically deposited layer, and wherein said second metallic layer comprises a further layer to the rear and in contact with the posterior side of said second metallic layer, said further layer being in the form of an oxide of the metal of said second metallic layer, thereby increasing the sealing efficiency of the layer-set.

7. An electrochromic-layer-set according to claim 6, wherein said second metallic layer is nickel or tin.

8. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 7, wherein said second metallic layer has a thickness of 5 to 10 microns.

9. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 6, wherein said second metallic layer has a thickness of 5 to 10 microns.

10. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 6, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 microns.

11. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 6, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.1 to 5 microns.

13. A layer-set according to claim 6, wherein said first catalytic metallic layer is said second electrode.

14. A layer-set according to claim 6, wherein a stop plate is mounted on said second metallic layer.

22. A layer-set according to claim 13, wherein said metallic layer is an electrolytically deposited metallic layer.

12. An electrochromic layer-set comprising:

a transparent substrate plate arranged on the front face of the layer set, a hydrogen ion-conducting layer, a first electrode, and an electrochromic layer arranged between said transparent substrate plate and said hydrogen ion-conducting layer; and

a hydrogen-storing layer and a second electrode separated from said first electrode and said electrochromic layer by said hydrogen ion-conducting layer;

rearward of said layers, a metallic layer, as a rear face, sealing the layer-set; and

a further layer to the rear and in contact with the posterior side of said metallic layer, said further layer being in the form of an oxide of the metal of said metallic layer, thereby increasing the sealing efficiency of the layer-set.

15. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 12, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.1 to 5 microns and wherein said metal is nickel or tin.

17. A layer-set according to claim 12, wherein said metallic layer serves as said second electrode.

18. A layer-set according to claim 12, wherein a stop plate is mounted on said metallic-oxide layer.

23. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 12, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 microns.

16. An electrochromic layer-set having a metal sealing layer, said metal sealing layer having a posterior side facing away from the layer-set, said posterior side comprising a layer of metal oxide.

19. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 16, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.1 to 5 microns.

20. An electrochromic layer set according to claim 16, wherein the layer of metal-oxide has a thickness of about 0.1 to 5 microns and wherein said metal is nickel or tin.

21. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 16, wherein the layer of metal oxide has a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 microns.