Method for filling large area electrochromic windows
First Claim
1. A method for filling a large area electrochromic window having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing transparent conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal having a gap therein, said peripheral seal enclosing an area of each of said plates to define a cavity within said window, said filling method comprising:
- placing said window in a chamber along with a container of a liquid medium comprising electrochromic material and evacuating said chamber;
said liquid medium comprising an organic solvent having a vapor pressure of less than 3.2 mm of mercury at 25°
C.;
lowering said window into said container of liquid medium such that said gap is located under the surface of said liquid medium;
exposing said liquid medium to a source of inert gas of pressure greater than that in said cavity within said window to thereby cause said medium to flow into said cavity of said window;
removing said window from said container; and
sealing said gap in said peripheral seal of said window.
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Abstract
The specification discloses electrochemichromic solutions and devices based on the use of solvents comprising at least about 25% 3-hydroxypropionitrile, 3,3′-oxydipropionitrile, 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-methylglutaronitrile, 3-methylsulfolane and mixtures thereof. The specification also discloses vacuum backfilling techniques for filling electrochemichromic cells and enhanced UV stability through solvent self-screening.
329 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for filling a large area electrochromic window having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing transparent conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal having a gap therein, said peripheral seal enclosing an area of each of said plates to define a cavity within said window, said filling method comprising:
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placing said window in a chamber along with a container of a liquid medium comprising electrochromic material and evacuating said chamber;
said liquid medium comprising an organic solvent having a vapor pressure of less than 3.2 mm of mercury at 25°
C.;
lowering said window into said container of liquid medium such that said gap is located under the surface of said liquid medium;
exposing said liquid medium to a source of inert gas of pressure greater than that in said cavity within said window to thereby cause said medium to flow into said cavity of said window;
removing said window from said container; and
sealing said gap in said peripheral seal of said window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for filling a large area electrochromic device having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, and including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal to form a sealed cavity, said sealed cavity containing a gaseous medium, the method comprising:
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providing a pair of spaced openings in the device which are in fluid communication with said sealed cavity;
placing a first of said openings in flow communication with a liquid medium;
placing the second of said openings in flow communication with a vacuum source;
and drawing said liquid medium into said sealed cavity of the device through said first opening while said gaseous medium within said sealed cavity is evacuated by the vacuum source through said second opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 20, 22, 26, 27, 28, 40)
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17. A method for filling a large area electrochromic device having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, and including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal to form a sealed cavity, the method comprising:
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providing a pair of spaced openings in the device which are in fluid communication with the sealed cavity;
placing one of said openings in flow communication with a liquid medium;
placing the other of said openings in flow communication with a vacuum source whereby said liquid medium is drawn into the cavity of the device;
said liquid medium comprising at least one of a cathodically coloring electrochromic material and an anodically coloring electrochromic material;
said liquid medium including an organic solvent, said organic solvent being a solvent comprising at least 25% by volume of 3-hydroxypropionitrile (HPN), 3,3′
-oxydipropionitrile (ODPN), 2-acetylbutyrolactone (ABL), 2-methylglutaronitrile (MGNT), 3-methylsulfolane (MS), propylene carbonate (PC) or a mixture thereof.
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18. A method for filling a large area electrochromic device having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, and including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal to form a sealed cavity, the method comprising:
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providing a pair of spaced openings in the device which are in fluid communication with the sealed cavity;
placing one of said openings in flow communication with a liquid medium;
placing the other of said openings in flow communication with a vacuum source whereby said liquid medium is drawn into the cavity of the device;
said liquid medium including an organic solvent, said organic solvent comprising two solvents at a ratio of from 75;
25 to 25;
75 by volume.
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19. A method for filling a large area electrochromic device having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, and including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal to form a sealed cavity, the method comprising:
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providing a pair of spaced openings in the device which are in fluid communication with the sealed cavity;
placing one of said openings in flow communication with a liquid medium;
placing the other of said openings in flow communication with a vacuum source whereby said liquid medium is drawn into the cavity of the device;
said liquid medium including an organic solvent, said organic solvent of said liquid medium comprising at least one of the following combination of solvents;
(a) 3-hydroxypropionitrile and 2-methylglutaronitrile in a ratio by volume of from 75;
25 to 25;
75;
(b) 3-hydroxypropionitrile and 3-methylsulfolane in a ratio by volume of from 75;
25 to 25;
75;
(c) propylene carbonate and 3,3′
-oxydipropionitrile in a ratio by volume of from 75;
25 to 25;
75;
(d) 3-hydroxypropionitrile and 2-acetylbutyrolactone in a ratio by volume of from 75;
25 to 25;
75;
(e) 3-acetylbutyrolactone and 3,3′
-oxydipropionitrile in a ratio by volume of from 75;
25 to 25;
75;
(f) propylene carbonate and 2-acetylbutyrolactone in a ratio by volume of from 75;
25 to 25;
75; and
(g) 3-hydroxypropionitrile and 3,3′
-oxydipropionitrile in a ratio by volume of from 75;
25 to 25;
75.
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21. A method for filling a large area electrochromic device having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, and including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal to form a sealed cavity, the method comprising:
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providing a pair of spaced openings in the device which are in fluid communication with the sealed cavity;
placing one of said openings in flow communication with a liquid medium;
placing the other of said openings in flow communication with a vacuum source whereby said liquid medium is drawn into the cavity of the device;
said liquid medium including an electrochromic material comprising at least one of a phenazine, a phenyldiamine, a benzidene and a fulvalene.
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23. A method for filling a large area electrochromic device having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, and including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal to form a sealed cavity, the method comprising:
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providing a pair of spaced openings in the device which are in fluid communication with the sealed cavity;
placing one of said openings in flow communication with a liquid medium;
placing the other of said openings in flow communication with a vacuum source whereby said liquid medium is drawn into the cavity of the device;
said electrochromic device comprising an electrochromic window.- View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method for filling a large area electrochromic device having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, and including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal to form a sealed cavity, the method comprising:
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providing a pair of spaced openings in the device which are in fluid communication with the sealed cavity;
placing one of said openings in flow communication with a liquid medium;
placing the other of said openings in flow communication with a vacuum source whereby said liquid medium is drawn into the cavity of the device;
said liquid medium comprising an organic solvent having a vapor pressure of less than 3.2 mm of mercury at 25°
C.
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29. A method for filling a large area electrochromic window having an electrochromically active area of at least about 110 cm2, including two spaced-apart plates, each plate having an inwardly facing transparent conductive surface, said spaced plates being separated around their peripheries by a peripheral seal having a gap therein, said peripheral seal enclosing an area of each of said plates to define a cavity within said window, said filling method comprising:
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providing a liquid medium comprising electrochromic material, said liquid medium comprising an organic solvent having a vapor pressure of less than 3.2 mm of mercury at 25°
C.;
evacuating said cavity of said window to a vacuum;
placing said evacuated cavity of said window in flow communication with said liquid medium;
exposing said liquid medium to a source of inert gas of pressure greater than that in said cavity within said window to thereby cause said medium to flow into said cavity of said window;
removing said window from flow communication with said liquid medium; and
sealing said gap in said peripheral seal of said window. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification