Electrochromic device

Details Electrochromic device Electrochromic device

1999-10-22

2001-03-27

Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)

Optical: systems and elements

Optical modulator

Light wave temporal modulation

C359S265000, C359S268000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06208452

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrochromic devices which are useful for transmission-type device such as smart windows, reflective-type devices such as antiglare mirrors for automobiles and decorative mirrors and displays.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-18336 discloses a method of producing a chromogenic layer used for an electrochromic device by vacuum-depositing or sputtering an inorganic oxide such as tungsten oxide (WO
3
) over a transparent electrically conductive film. However, this method leads to elevated production costs due to the involvement of technique under vacuum conditions.
It has been proposed to produce a chromogenic layer by using an electrochromic compound such as viologen and an electron donating compounds in combination without employing a technique involving vacuum conditions.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-120088 discloses a solution for an electrochromic device which is obtained by dissolving an electrochromic compound such as viologen and an electron donating compound in a suitable solvent. However, this attempt has a problem that the resulting electrochromic device is deteriorated in electrochromic performances since viologen which is freely present in the solvent, is easily dimerized, leading to precipitation. Furthermore, there is a risk that the liquid medium possibly scatters upon breakage of the device.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-70218 discloses a solid chromogenic layer produced by dispersing an electrochromic compound such as viologen and an electron donating compound in a polymer with the aid of a monomer which can be polymerized by irradiating electromagnetic radiation. Since the solid medium is used in this chromogenic layer, there is no risk that the medium scatters upon breakage of the device. However, the viologen is still freely present even in the solid medium and thus easily precipitates by being dimerized, resulting in a failure of completely avoiding the resulting electrochromic device from being deteriorated.
Furthermore, the viologen and electron donating compound are changed in properties by ultraviolet ray penetrating through the substrate of the device, leading to the shortened lifetime thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
After an extensive research and study, it has been found that the foregoing problems can be overcome by an electrochromic device having a structure described below.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrochromic device having an ion conductive layer obtained by curing a composition containing (a) a bipyridinium compound represented by formula (1), (b) an amine compound represented by formula (2) and/or (3) and (c) a precursor component of a polymeric solid electrolyte, disposed between two electrically conductive substrates at least one of which is transparent, formula (1) being
wherein X— and Y— may be the same or different and are each independently a counter anion selected from the group consisting of an halogen anion, ClO
4
—, BF
4
—, PF
6
—, CH
3
COO— and CH
3
(C
6
H
4
)SO
3
—, R
1
is hydrogen or a C
1
-C
5
alkyl group, R
2
is a C
1
-C
30
divalent hydrocarbon residue, R
3
is a C
1
-C
20
hydrocarbon residue and a is an integer of 0 or 1; formula (2) being
wherein R
4
is hydrogen or a C
1
-C
5
alkyl group, R
5
is a C
1
-C
15
hydrocarbon residue, b is an integer of 0 or 1, R
6
and R
7
may be the same or different and are each independently hydrogen or a C
1
-C
20
hydrocarbon residue, R
8
is hydrogen or a C
1
-C
20
hydrocarbon residue and Ar
1
is a C
6
-C
20
divalent aromatic hydrocarbon residue; and formula (3) being
wherein R
9
is hydrogen or a C
1
-C
5
alkyl group, R
10
is a C
1
-C
15
hydrocarbon residue, c is an integer of 0 or 1, R
11
and R
12
may be the same or different and are each independently hydrogen or a C
1
-C
20
hydrocarbon residue and R
13
is hydrogen or a C
1
-C
20
hydrocarbon residue.
According to the other aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrochromic device having the ion conductive layer obtained by curing the composition further containing (d) an ultraviolet absorbing compound having an ethylenic double bond.


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patent: 4902108 (1990-02-01), Byker
patent: 5068062 (1991-11-01), Inata et al.
patent: 5310829 (1994-05-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5859722 (1999-01-01), Suga et al.
patent: 5883220 (1999-03-01), Armand et al.
patent: 5995273 (1999-11-01), Chandrasekhar
patent: 6020987 (2000-02-01), Baumann et al.
patent: 6023364 (2000-02-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 2-110187 (1990-04-01), None

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