# US 2021/0240048 A1 · Electrochromic device containing color-tunable nanostructures

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- Number: US 2021/0240048 A1
- Document ID: US20210240048A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/205,787
- Filed: 2021-03-18
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-26
- Assignees: Heliotrope Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Heliotrope Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Guillermo Garcia; Jason Holt; Scott Thomsen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240048A1

## CPC

- E06B 9/24: Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00)
- G02F 1/133308: {Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels}
- G02F 1/1525: {characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte}
- G02F 1/1533: {structural features not otherwise provided for}
- G02F 1/155: Electrodes
- E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels}
- G02F 1/133311: {Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity}
- G02F 1/153: Constructional details
- G02F 2001/1536: {additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell}
- G02F 2001/1555: {Counter electrode}
- G02F 2201/086: UV absorbing
- G02F 2201/50: Protective arrangements
- G02F 2201/501: Blocking layers, e.g. against migration of ions
- G02F 2202/36: Micro- or nanomaterials
- G02F 2203/10: plasmon
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- 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

## Abstract

An electrochromic device and method, the device including: a first transparent conductor layer; a working electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor layer and including nanostructures; a counter electrode; a solid state electrolyte layer disposed between the counter electrode and the working electrode; and a second transparent conductor layer disposed on the counter electrode. The nanostructures may include transition metal oxide nanoparticles and/or nanocrystals configured to tune the color of the device by selectively modulating the transmittance of near-infrared (NIR) and visible radiation as a function of an applied voltage to the device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrochromic device, comprising:
a first transparent conductor layer;
a working electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor layer and comprising tungsten oxide nanoparticles;
a counter electrode;
an electrolyte layer disposed between the counter electrode and the working electrode; and
a second transparent conductor layer disposed on the counter electrode,
wherein:
the electrochromic device has a transmitted haze of less than about 1.0%;
in a bright mode the electrochromic device transmits at least 50% of received visible light; and
in a dark mode the electrochromic device transmits 5% or less of received visible light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise (WO3-x) nanoparticles, where 0≤x≤0.33.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electrochromic device of claim 2, wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise (WO3-x) nanoparticles, where 0≤x≤0.17.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electrochromic device of claim 3, wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise WO3 nanoparticles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles have an average particle size of from about 4 nm to about 6 nm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles contain a lithium dopant.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrochromic device of claim 1, further comprising a protective layer configured to reduce degradation of the working electrode due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the counter electrode comprises at least one selected from: CeO2; CeVO2; TiO2; indium tin oxide; indium oxide; nickel oxide; tin oxide; manganese or antimony doped tin oxide; aluminum doped zinc oxide; zinc oxide; gallium zinc oxide; indium gallium zinc oxide; molybdenum doped indium oxide; Fe2O3; and V2O5.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein the counter electrode comprises CeO2 and indium oxide.