Electrochromic device having a current-reducing additive
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsKathy E. Roberts, Thomas F. Guarr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to materially reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential, relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive, while maintaining an electrochromic medium viscosity which facilitates acceptable production rates without a problematic degree of seal or other device component failure.
Claims60
An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device, comprising:
- at least one solvent;
- an anodic electroactive material;
- a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic;
- a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive by at least approximately 20%;
- and
- wherein the electrochromic medium comprises a viscosity of less than approximately 150 cP at 20° C.
An electrochromic device, comprising:
- a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;
- a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;
- and
- an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises:
- at least one solvent;
- an anodic electroactive material;
- a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic;
- a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive by at least approximately 20%;
- and
- wherein the electrochromic medium comprises a viscosity of less than approximately 150 cP at 20° C.
An electrochromic device, comprising:
- at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;
- and
- an electrochromic medium comprising:
- at least one solvent;
- an anodic electroactive material;
- a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic;
- a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive by at least approximately 20%;
- and
- wherein the electrochromic medium comprises a viscosity of less than approximately 150 cP at 20° C.
An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device, comprising:
- at least one solvent;
- an anodic electroactive material;
- a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic;
- a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive by at least approximately 20%;
- and
- wherein the average molecular weight of the current-reducing additive ranges from approximately 1,000 Daltons to approximately 85,000 Daltons.
An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device, comprising:
- at least one solvent;
- an anodic electroactive material;
- a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic;
- a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive is present in a concentration greater than 12% by weight;
- and
- wherein the electrochromic medium comprises a viscosity of less than approximately 150 cP at 20° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.