Electrochromic medium having a self-healing, cross-linked polymer matrix and associated electrochromic device

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
• a gelled 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;
• and
• a self-healing, cross-linked polymer matrix which comprises a product of at least one of a first reactant having at least one of an adhesive/cohesive functional group and a cross-linking functional group and a second reactant having a cross-linking functional group;
• wherein the following inequality is true:
• f+2(log(r)/p)≧1.10;
• wherein f comprises Σx/m;
• wherein x comprises a value ranging from 0 to 2 for each element (A), aryl moiety (Ar), and cyclic moiety (Cy) of at least one of the first and second reactants;
• wherein x comprises 0 if A or Ar is represented by one of the following structures:
• wherein x comprises 0.5 if A or Cy is represented by one of the following structures:
• wherein x comprises 1.0 if A is represented by one of the following structures:
• wherein x comprises 1.5 if A is represented by the following structure:
• wherein x comprises 2.0 if A is represented by the following structure:
• wherein A comprises C, N, O, S, P, or Si;
• wherein Z comprises H or F;
• wherein R comprises any other pendent group other than Z;
• wherein m comprises the number of (A) elements, (Ar) moieties, and (Cy) moieties of the at least one of the first and second reactants which define x;
• wherein r comprises the molar ratio of the adhesive/cohesive functional group of the first reactant to the cross-linking functional group of at least one of the first and second reactants;
• and
• wherein p comprises the total concentration by weight of the self-healing, cross-linked polymer matrix in the gelled electrochromic medium.

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
• a gelled 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;
• and
• a self-healing, cross-linked polymer matrix which comprises a product of at least one of a first reactant having at least one of an adhesive/cohesive functional group and a cross-linking functional group, and a second reactant having a cross-linking functional group;
• wherein the following inequality is true:
• f+2(log(r)/p)≧1.25;
• wherein f comprises Σx/m;
• wherein x comprises a value ranging from 0 to 2 for each element (A), aryl moiety (Ar), and cyclic moiety (Cy) of at least one of the first and second reactants;
• wherein x comprises 0 if A or Ar is represented by one of the following structures:
• wherein x comprises 0.5 if A or Cy is represented by one of the following structures:
• wherein x comprises 1.0 if A is represented by one of the following structures:
• wherein x comprises 1.5 if A is represented by the following structure:
• wherein x comprises 2.0 if A is represented by the following structure:
• wherein A comprises C, N, O, S, P, or Si;
• wherein Z comprises H or F;
• wherein R comprises any other pendent group other than Z;
• wherein m comprises the number of (A) elements, (Ar) moieties, and (Cy) moieties of the at least one of the first and second reactants which define x;
• wherein r comprises the molar ratio of the adhesive/cohesive functional group of the first reactant to the cross-linking functional group of at least one of the first and second reactants;
• and
• wherein p comprises the total concentration by weight of the self-healing, cross-linked polymer matrix in the gelled electrochromic medium.