Electrochromic layer-set

• US 5,069,535 A
• Filed: 05/29/1990
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
• Original Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
• Inventors: Braun, Jutta, Metz, Bernd, Baucke, Friedrich G. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hille, Rolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAADAT, MAHSHID D
• Application Number:
  US07/529,419
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 350/357
• US Class Current: 359/273
• 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 catalytic layer being simultaneously capable of functioning as an electrode, a rear face in immediate contact with the catalytic layer, said rear face comprising a metallic layer,

2. An electrochromic layer set according to claim 1, wherein the electrolytically deposited metallic layer comprises tin or nickel. said metallic layer being an electrolytically deposited metallic layer and hermetically sealing the layer-set.

3. An electrochromic layer set according to claim 1, wherein the electrolytically deposited metallic layer has a thickness of 5-10 microns.

4. An electrochromic layer set according to claim 2, wherein the electrolytically deposited metallic layer has a thickness of 5-10 microns.

5. A process of electrolytically sealing an electrochromic layer-set comprising immersing the electrochromic layer-set and a counter-electrode in a solution of metal ions, said layer-set comprising an electrode at one end functioning as a negative electrode, said counter-electrode functioning as a positive electrode, and electrolytically depositing a metal layer from said metal ions, said metal layer being deposited on said negative electrode in a sufficient depth to seal the electrochromic layers set to prevent hydrogen and water from leaking from said layer-set and to prevent ambient oxygen from diffusing out the layer-set which would otherwise react with hydrogen.

6. A process according to claim 5, said metal layer having a posteriod side facing away from the electrochromic layer-set, and further comprising oxidizing said posterior side.

7. A process according to claim 5, wherein the electrolytically deposited metallic layer comprises tin or nickel.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein said electrolytically deposited metallic layer has a thickness of 5-10 microns.

9. A process according to claim 6, wherein said metallic sealing layer comprises nickel or tin.

10. A process according to claim 9, wherein said metallic sealing layer has a thickness of 5-10 microns.

11. 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.

12. A process according to claim 11, wherein said metallic sealing layer comprises nickel or tin.

13. A process according to claim 12, wherein said metallic sealing layer has a thickness of 5-10 microns.

14. 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.

15. A layer-set according to claim 14, wherein said first catalytic metallic layer is said second electrode.

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

17. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 14, wherein said second metallic layer is nickel or tin.

18. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 17, wherein said second metallic layer has a thickness of 5 to 10 microns.

19. An electrochromic layer-set having an electrolytically deposited metal sealing layer of 5 to 10 microns.

20. An electrochromic layer-set according to claim 19, wherein the metal sealing layer comprises nickel or tin.