Electrochromic device and storage device and manufacturing method thereof

• US 8,743,447 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Cheng KUNG University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Cheng KUNG University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Chen, Jen-Sue, Wu, Jih-Jen, Wu, Wei-Ting, Chiang, Kun-Keng
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US13/345,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 345/105
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1552 Inner electrode, e.g. the electrochromic layer being sandwiched between the inner electrode and the support substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

An electrochromic device is provided. The electrochromic device includes a first substrate, an electrochromic layer, an electrode, an electrolyte layer and a second substrate. The electrochromic layer is formed on the first substrate, the electrode is disposed on the electrochromic layer, and the electrolyte layer is disposed between the electrode and the second substrate.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a first substrate;

an electrochromic layer having an upper surface and a lateral surface and formed on the first substrate;

an electrode disposed on the upper surface of the electrochromic layer;

a second substrate; and

an electrolyte layer disposed between the electrode and the second substrate.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic layer includes a contact surface having a first part and a second part, the electrode covers the first part, and the second part contacts with the electrolyte layer.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second substrates includes a transparent substrate and thereon a transparent conducting layer having a transparent conducting material.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transparent conducting material includes one selected from a group consisting of indium tin oxide, tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum-doped zinc oxide, gallium-doped zinc oxide, titanium nitride and a combination thereof.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode includes one of a metal material and a transparent conducting material.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the metal material includes one selected from a group consisting of aluminum, gold, platinum, silver, titanium, copper, tungsten, molybdenum, zirconium, chromium, hafnium and a combination thereof; and

the transparent conducting material includes one selected from a group consisting of indium tin oxide, tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum-doped zinc oxide, gallium-doped zinc oxide, titanium nitride and a combination thereof.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrolyte layer includes one of an electrolytic solution and a solid electrolyte.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the electrolytic solution includes at least a first ion being one selected from a group consisting of a hydrogen ion, a lithium ion, a sodium ion, a potassium ion and a combination thereof; and

the solid electrolyte includes at least a second ion and a substance, the second ion includes one selected from a group consisting of a hydrogen ion, a lithium ion, a sodium ion, a potassium ion and a combination thereof, and the substance includes one selected from a group consisting of poly(perfluorosulphonic acid), poly(2-acrylamindo-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid), poly(ethylene sulphonic acid), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(styrene sulphonic acid), poly(vinyl sulphonic acid), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl piperidine), cross-linked polyether, Ta₂O₅, ZrO₂, chromium oxide, silicon dioxide with a metal, water glass, MgF₂, Li₃N, phosphotungstic acid (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀), LiAlF₄, LiNbO₃ and a combination thereof.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic layer includes one of an inorganic material and an organic material.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

the inorganic material includes one selected from a group consisting of tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, titanium oxide, niobium oxide, zinc oxide, tantalum oxide, iron oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iridium oxide, vanadium oxide, rhodium oxide, molybdenum oxide, cobalt oxide, cerium oxide, ruthenium oxide and a combination thereof; and

the organic material includes one selected from a group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polyaniline, viologen, KFe[Fe(CN)₆], Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃, Fe₄[Ru(CN)₆]₃, CoFe(CN)₆, InFe(CN)₆, pyrazoline, tetrathiafulvalene and a combination thereof.

11. A storage device, comprising:

a first substrate;

an electrochromic layer having an upper surface and a lateral surface and formed on the first substrate;

an electrode disposed on the upper surface of the electrochromic layer;

a second substrate; and

an electrolyte layer disposed between the electrode and the second substrate.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the electrochromic layer includes a first part and a second part, the electrode covers the first part, and the second part contacts with the electrolyte layer;

each of the first and second substrates includes a transparent substrate and thereon a transparent conducting layer having a transparent conducting material;

the electrode includes one of a metal material and the transparent conducting material;

the electrolyte layer includes one of an electrolytic solution and a solid electrolyte; and

the electrochromic layer includes one of an inorganic material and an organic material.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the transparent conducting material includes one selected from a group consisting of indium tin oxide, tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum-doped zinc oxide, gallium-doped zinc oxide, titanium nitride and a combination thereof;

the metal material includes one selected from a group consisting of aluminum, gold, platinum, silver, titanium, copper, tungsten, molybdenum, zirconium, chromium, hafnium and a combination thereof;

the electrolytic solution includes at least a first ion being one selected from a group consisting of a hydrogen ion, a lithium ion, a sodium ion, a potassium ion and a combination thereof;

the solid electrolyte includes at least a second ion and a substance, the second ion includes one selected from a group consisting of a hydrogen ion, a lithium ion, a sodium ion, a potassium ion and a combination thereof, and the substance includes one selected from a group consisting of poly(perfluorosulphonic acid), poly(2-acrylamindo-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid), poly(ethylene sulphonic acid), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(styrene sulphonic acid), poly(vinyl sulphonic acid), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl piperidine), cross-linked polyether, Ta₂O₅, ZrO₂, chromium oxide, silicon dioxide with a metal, water glass, MgF₂, Li₃N, phosphotungstic acid (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀), LiAlF₄, LiNbO₃ and a combination thereof;

the inorganic material includes one selected from a group consisting of tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, titanium oxide, niobium oxide, zinc oxide, tantalum oxide, iron oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iridium oxide, vanadium oxide, rhodium oxide, molybdenum oxide, cobalt oxide, cerium oxide, ruthenium oxide and a combination thereof; and

the organic material includes one selected from a group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polyaniline, viologen, KFe[Fe(CN)₆], Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃, Fe₄[Ru(CN)₆]₃, CoFe(CN)₆, InFe(CN)₆, pyrazoline, tetrathiafulvalene and a combination thereof.

14. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first substrate and the electrode have a first and a second resistances therebetween, the first and the second resistances are regulated by a first voltage to cause the electrochromic layer to be in one of a low-resistance state when the first resistance exists between the first substrate and the electrode and a high-resistance state when the second resistance exists between the first substrate and the electrode, and the first resistance is lower than the second resistance.

15. A device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a first voltage between the first and the second substrates and a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is regulated by the second voltage so as to cause the electrochromic layer to include N different transmittances being resoluble, the N is one of integers larger than and equal to 2, and the device further comprises at least 2N memory configurations.

16. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrochromic layer includes a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, and the device further comprises:

a light-emitting element disposed on the first side; and

a light-sensing element disposed on the second side and opposite to the light-emitting element, so that when the electrochromic layer is one of transparent and translucent layers, the light-emitting element emits a light passing through the electrochromic layer and received by the light-sensing element.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first substrate includes a first surface relatively far away from the electrochromic layer, the second substrate includes a second surface relatively far away from the electrolyte layer, the light-sensing element is disposed on the first surface, and the light-emitting element is disposed on the second surface.

18. A method of manufacturing a storage device, comprising steps of:

providing a first substrate;

forming an electrochromic layer on the first substrate, wherein the electrochromic layer has an upper surface and a lateral surface;

disposing an electrode on the upper surface of the electrochromic layer;

providing a second substrate; and

disposing an electrolyte layer between the second substrate and the electrochromic layer.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electrochromic layer includes a contact surface having a first part and a second part, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, and the method further comprises steps of:

causing the electrode to cover the first part, and the second part to contact with the electrolyte layer;

disposing a light-emitting element on the first side;

disposing a light-sensing element on the second side and opposite to the light-emitting element, so that when the electrochromic layer is one of transparent and translucent layers, the light-emitting element emits a light passing through the electrochromic layer and received by the light-sensing element.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first substrate includes a first surface relatively far away from the electrochromic layer, the second substrate includes a second surface relatively far away from the electrolyte layer, and the method further comprises steps of:

disposing the light-sensing element on the first surface; and

disposing the light-emitting element on the second surface.