# US 10,120,257 B2 · Electrochromic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,257 B2 - Document ID: US10120257B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/590,245 - Filed: 2015-01-06 - Published: 2015-07-16 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-15 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Cho-Young Lee; Hye Jin Kim; Jun Sung Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120257B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/1523: comprising inorganic material - G02F 1/1525: {characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte} - C09K 9/00: Tenebrescent materials, i.e. materials for which the range of wavelengths for energy absorption is changed as a result of excitation by some form of energy - G02F 2001/1536: {additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell} - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract Disclosed herein is an electrochromic device including an active layer in which a catalyst facilitating oxidation-reduction reaction is homogeneously dispersed. The electrochromic device includes at least one active layer to reversibly exhibit a transparent state upon hydrogenation and a reflective state upon dehydrogenation, wherein the active layer includes a catalyst to facilitate a rate of reversible conversion between the transparent state and the reflective state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrochromic device comprising: a substrate; and at least one active layer structure configured to reversibly exhibit a transparent state upon hydrogenation and a reflective state upon dehydrogenation, and wherein the at least one active layer structure comprises: a first active layer; a second active layer disposed on the first active layer so as to be in contact with the first active layer; and a catalyst comprising: a first group of islands that is formed on a first planar surface, at an interface between the first active layer and the second active layer; and a second group of islands that is formed on a second planar surface that is different than the first planar surface, at an interface between the second active layer and an electrolyte layer, wherein the catalyst facilitates a rate of reversible conversion between the transparent state and the reflective state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is provided to facilitate bonding or cleavage between a metal alloy and hydrogen contained in the at least one active layer structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active layer structure comprises a magnesium (Mg) alloy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein the Mg alloy has an atomic ratio of magnesium (Mg) and an alloy material (Mg/alloy material), of about 2 to about 8. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag) and gold (Au). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device according to claim 1, further comprising an ion storage layer to store hydrogen supplied to the at least one active layer structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrochromic device according to claim 6, wherein the ion storage layer comprises transition metal oxide capable of transmitting and absorbing light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrochromic device according to claim 7, wherein the transition metal oxide comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen (H), lithium (Li), sodium (Na), titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo) and niobium (Nb). ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The electrochromic device according to claim 6, wherein the ion storage layer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of tungsten oxides with hydrogen (HxWO3), titanium oxide (TiO2), molybdenum oxide (MoO3) and niobium (Nb2O5). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte layer is configured to facilitate movement of hydrogen ions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrochromic device according to claim 10, wherein the electrolyte layer is provided in a liquid, gel or solid state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electrochromic device according to claim 10, wherein the electrolyte layer comprises tantalum oxide (Ta2O5). ### Claim 13 An electrochromic device comprising: a substrate; and at least one active layer structure configured to reversibly exhibit a transparent state upon hydrogenation and a reflective state upon dehydrogenation, and wherein the at least one active layer structure comprises: a first active layer; a second active layer disposed on the first active layer so as to be in contact with the first active layer; and a catalyst comprising: a first group of islands that is formed on a first planar surface, at an interface between the first active layer and the second active layer; and a second group of islands that is formed on a second planar surface that is different than the first planar surface, at an interface between the second active layer and an electrolyte layer, wherein the catalyst facilitates a rate of reversible conversion between the transparent state and the reflective state. ### Claim 14 An electrochromic device comprising: a substrate; and at least one active layer structure configured to reversibly exhibit a transparent state upon hydrogenation and a reflective state upon dehydrogenation, wherein the at least one active layer structure comprises: a first active layer; a second active layer disposed on the first active layer so as to be in contact with the first active layer; and a catalyst comprising: a first group of islands that is formed on a first planar surface, at an interface between the first active layer and the second active layer; and a second group of islands that is formed on a second planar surface that is different than the first planar surface, at an interface between the second active layer and an electrolyte layer, wherein the catalyst facilitates a rate of reversible conversion between the transparent state and the reflective state, and wherein a voltage is applied to the at least one active layer structure.