Electrochromic media for producing a preselected color and devices comprising same

• US 6,288,825 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Guarr, Thomas F., Byker, Harlan J., Winkle, Derick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US09/666,001
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 359/365, 359/272, 359/273, 359/275, 359/321, 359/322, 252/583, 252/600, 204/290.07, 428/426
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 213/22 containing two or more pyridine rings directly linked together, e.g. bipyridyl
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 241/36 condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 241/46 Phenazines
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions

Abstract

Electrochromic compositions suitable for use in electrochromic media in electrochromic devices contain minimally two electrochromic compounds of the same redox type, whose redox potentials are greater than 30 mV. The lower redox potential electrochromic compound makes a large contribution to the absorbancy of the electrochromic medium despite being present in only minor concentration.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

(a) at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and

(b) an electrochromic medium capable of producing a preselected color comprising at least three electroactive compounds, two of which are of the same redox type and another which is of a complementary redox type, where one of the two electroactive compounds of the same redox type has a more easily accessible electrochemically activated redox state than the other by minimally 30mV, and where two of the at least three electroactive compounds are electrochromic.

2. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least three electroactive compounds comprise at least two anodic electroactive compounds and at least one cathodic electroactive compound.

3. The electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cathodic electrochromic compound is a dipyridinium compound.

4. The electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the electrochromic compounds are selected from 5,10-dihydrophenazine compounds and dipyridinium compounds.

5. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least three electroactive compounds comprise at least two cathodic electroactive compounds and at least one anodic electroactive compound.

6. The electrochromic device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one anodic electrochromic compound is a 5,10-dihydrophenazine compound.

7. The electrochromic device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one cathodic electrochromic compound is a dipyridinium compound.

8. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the more easily accessible electrochemically activated state is more accessible by minimally 40mV.

9. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive compound of the same redox type whose redox state is more easily accessible is present in the amount of 28 mol percent or less of the total electrochromic compounds of the same type.

10. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive compound of the same redox type whose redox state is more easily accessible is present in the amount of 25 mol percent or less of the total electrochromic compounds of the same type.

11. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive compound of the same redox state is more easily accessible is present in the amount of 20 mol percent or less of the total electrochromic compounds of the same type.

12. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic medium does not exhibit staging.

13. An electrochromic device, comprising:

(a) at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and

(b) an electrochromic medium capable of producing a preselected color comprising at least three electroactive compounds, two of which are of the same redox type and another which is of a complementary redox type, where one of the two electroactive compounds of the same redox type has a more easily accessible electrochemically activated redox state than the other, and where two of the at least three electroactive compounds are electrochromic.

14. An electrochromic device, comprising:

(a) at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and

(b) an electrochromic medium which comprises;

(1) an anodic material and a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic;

(2) at least one additional anodic electrochromic material or cathodic electrochromic material; and

(3) means associated with the medium for controllably selecting color of the electrochromic medium with the anodic material, the cathodic material, and the at least one additional anodic electrochromic material or cathodic electrochromic material.