Electrochromic organic component

• US 8,373,918 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kanitz, Andreas, Roth, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US12/998,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 252/583, 252/586
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1029 containing one nitrogen atom as the heteroatom
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/14 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1408 Carbocyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1466 containing nitrogen as the only heteroatom
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials

Abstract

An organically based electrochromic component, e.g. for the production of displays and/or state indicators produces at least two colors. For the first time, two colors can be switched according to the voltage by using a dye system of 4,4′-bipyridinium salts.

Claims

1. An organic electronic component, comprising:

at least two electrodes; and

a formulation between the electrodes, the formulation comprising a whitening agent and a 4,4′

-bipyridinium salt as a dye, wherein the 4,4′

-bipyridinium salt is in a matrix comprising at least one matrix material selected from the group consisting of a poly(4-vinylphenol), a polyacrylonitrile, a 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and derivatives thereof, such that adjusting a voltage across the electrodes selectively switches the formulation between two color changes.

2. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one matrix material is present in solution in the formulation.

3. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the formulation further comprises a metallocene.

4. The component as claimed in claim 3, wherein the matrix material is dissolved in a glycol to form the matrix.

5. The component as claimed in claim 4, wherein the glycol is diethylene glycol.

6. The component as claimed in claim 5, wherein the matrix material in the formulation is a polymer with a molecular weight ranging from 50 to 50000.

7. The component as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first color change can be switched with a voltage in the range from −

1 to −

1.5 volts and a second color change can be switched with a voltage of −

2.5 to −

3 volts.

8. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the matrix material is dissolved in a glycol to form the matrix.

9. The component as claimed in claim 8, wherein the glycol is diethylene glycol.

10. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the matrix material in the formulation is a polymer with a molecular weight ranging from 50 to 50000.

11. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first color change can be switched with a voltage in the range from −

1 to −

1.5 volts and a second color change can be switched with a voltage of −

2.5 to −

3 volts.