US 5,239,405 A · Electrochemichromic solutions, processes for preparing and using the same, and devices manufactured with the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to electrochromic solutions and devices manufactured therefrom. More precisely, the invention relates to electrochemichromic solutions, and those devices manufactured with the same, that demonstrate superior responsiveness to those solutions known heretofore when an applied potential is introduced thereto. That is, the responsiveness observed in terms of solution coloring is of a greater rapidity, intensity and uniformity than those electrochemichromic solutions of the prior art. Preparation of these solutions involve the novel process of pre-treating at least one of the electrochemichromic compounds with a redox agent prior to placing it in contact with the other electrochemichromic compound. Moreover, the present invention relates to methods of preparing such novel solutions and processes for using these solutions to provide devices that exhibit and benefit from the aforementioned superior characteristics.

Claims133

Dependent claims

An electrochemichromic solution capable of color change when an applied potential is introduced thereto, said electrochemichromic solution comprising:

(a) at least one anodic compound, said anodic compound having been previously contacted with a redox agent such that said anodic compound exists in a different valence state than prior to having been contacted with said redox agent;
(b) at least one cathodic compound;
and
(c) a solvent
wherein the redox potential of said anodic compound in said different valence state is greater than the redox potential of said cathodic compound while each is contacted with said solvent.

2 more elements

A process for preparing an electrochemichromic solution, said process comprises:

(a) solubilizing an electrochemichromic compound with a solvent;
(b) contacting said solubilized electrochemichromic compound with a redox agent to alter the valence state of said electrochemichromic compound such that an anodic compound is created in solution which has a different valence state than said solubilized electrochemichromic compound possessed prior to having been contacted with said redox agent;
(c) contacting a cathodic compound with said solubilized anodic compound of (b) to form said electrochemichromic solution;
and
(d) introducing an applied potential to said electrochemichromic solution such that a current passes through said electrochemichromic solution thereby causing a color change thereof.

2 more elements

An electrochemichromic device comprising:

(a) a first glass substrate coated with a conductive coating on its interior face;
(b) a second glass substrate coated with a conductive coating on its interior face, said second glass substrate positioned in substantially parallel spaced-apart relationship with said first glass substrate;
(c) a sealing means positioned toward, but inward from, the peripheral edge of each of said first substrate and said second substrate and sealingly forming a cell cavity therebetween;
(d) an electrochemichromic solution capable of color change when an applied potential is introduced thereto, said electrochemichromic solution comprising:
(1) methylene violet (Bernthsen), wherein said methylene violet (Bernthsen) has previously been reduced;
(2) an alkyl-substituted viologen salt, wherein said alkyl substituent is a member-selected from the group consisting of any straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from about one carbon atom to about six carbon atoms;
and
(3) a solvent, wherein said solvent is a member selected from the group consisting of the the combination of 3-hydroxypropionitrile, glutaronitrile and acetic acid, the combination of propylene carbonate and acetic acid, the combination of 3-ethoxypropionitrile and 2-acetylbutyrolactone, the combination of 3-ethoxypropionitrile, glutaronitrile and acetic acid, the combination of 3-hydroxypropionitrile, 3,3'-oxydipropionitrile and acetic acid, and the combination of propylene carbonate, cyanoethyl sucrose and acetic acid, wherein said solution has been dispensed into and confined within said cell cavity;
and
(e) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochemichromic solution to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light transmitted through said solution.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrochemichromic solutions, processes for preparing and using the same, and devices manufactured with the same

Life of this patent

Electrochemichromic solutions, processes for preparing and using the same, and devices manufactured with the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims133