Reversible electrodeposition devices and associated electrochemical media

• US 7,193,764 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Guarr, Thomas F., Lin, Rongguang, Roberts, Kathy E., Theiste, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US10/945,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 252/583
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a reversible electrodeposition device comprising: a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a nucleation layer at least partially covering at least one of the electrically conductive materials of the first and second substrates; an electrochemical medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates.

Claims

1. A reversible electrodeposition device, comprising:

a first electrode comprising a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second electrode comprising a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, wherein the second electrode comprises at least one of the group comprising an electrically conducting polymer layer, a sol-gel layer, a redox polymer layer, an electroactive layer, a surface attached layer;

a large capacitance layer, and a metal oxide layer;

a nucleation layer at least partially covering at least one of the electrically conductive materials of the first and second substrates; and

an electrochemical medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises a cathodic electroactive material.

2. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 1, further comprising a redox buffer.

3. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 2, wherein the redox buffer is more easily reduced than the cathodic material.

4. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 2, further comprising a solution phase anodic electroactive material.

5. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 4, wherein the concentration of the anodic electroactive material is greater than the cathodic electroactive material, to, in turn, enhance the electrochemical performance of the electrodeposition device.

6. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 4, wherein the redox buffer is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

7. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 4, wherein the redox buffer comprises:

a first component that is more easily reduced than the cathodic material; and

a second component that is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

8. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 2, wherein the redox buffer is present in a range from approximately 0.005 weight percent to approximately 5 weight percent.

9. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 1, wherein the cathodic material comprises a salt of an active metal.

10. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical medium further comprises a complexing agent.

11. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 10, further comprising a redox buffer, wherein the redox buffer is more easily reduced than the cathodic material.

12. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 10, further comprising a solution phase anodic electroactive material.

13. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 12, further comprising a redox buffer, wherein the redox buffer is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

14. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 10, further comprising a redox buffer, wherein the redox buffer comprises:

a first component that is more easily reduced than the cathodic material; and

a second component that is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

15. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 10, wherein a redox buffer is present in a range from approximately 0.005 weight percent to approximately 5 weight percent.

16. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 10, wherein the device is a window.

17. A reversible electrodeposition window having a non-patterned electrode, comprising:

a first electrode comprising a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second, non-patterned electrode comprising a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, wherein the second substrate is associated with at least one of the group comprising an electrically conducting polymer layer, a sol-gel layer, a redox polymer layer, an electroactive layer, a surface attached layer;

a large capacitance layer, and a metal oxide layer;

a nucleation layer at least partially covering the electrically conductive material of the first substrate; and

an electrochemical medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises a cathodic electroactive material.

18. The reversible electrodeposition window according to claim 17, wherein the electrochemical medium further comprises a redox buffer.

19. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 18, wherein the redox buffer is present in a range from approximately 0.005 weight percent to approximately 5 weight percent.

20. The reversible electrodeposition window according to claim 18, wherein the redox buffer is more easily reduced than the cathodic material.

21. The reversible electrodeposition device according to claim 17, further comprising a solution phase anodic electroactive material.

22. The reversible electrodeposition window according to claim 21, further comprising a redox buffer, wherein the redox buffer is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

23. The reversible electrodeposition window according to claim 21, further comprising a redox buffer, wherein the redox buffer comprises:

a first component that is more easily reduced than the cathodic material; and

a second component that is more easily oxidized than the anodic material.

24. The reversible electrodeposition window according to claim 17, wherein the electrochemical medium further comprises a complexing agent.

25. A reversible electrodeposition device having a non-patterned electrode, comprising:

a first electrode comprising a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second, non-patterned electrode comprising a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

an electrochemical medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates;

wherein upon application of a transitional potential, the reversible electrodeposition device transitions from a high transmission state to a low transmission state; and

wherein upon application of a maintenance potential lower than the transitional potential, the reversible electrodeposition device maintains the low transmission state.