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

An electrochemichromic mirror having a range of reflectance from greater than about 70% to less than about 10%, said electrochemichromic mirror comprising:

• (a) a first substantially transparent substrate coated with a substantially transparent conductive coating on its interior face having a sheet resistance in the range of from about 1 to about 100 ohms per square;
• (b) a second substantially transparent substrate coated with a substantially transparent conductive coating on its interior face having a sheet resistance in the range of from about 1 to about 100 ohms per square, said second substrate positioned in substantially parallel spaced-apart relationship with said first substrate and being laterally displaced therefrom;
• (c) a reflective coating on a face of either one of said first substrate or said second substrate;
• (d) a sealing means positioned toward the peripheral edge of each of said first substrate and said second substrate and sealingly forming a cell cavity therebetween;
• (e) an electrochemichromic solution capable of color change when an applied potential is introduced thereto having been dispensed into and confined within said cell cavity, said electrochemichromic solution comprising:
• (i) at least one anodic compound, the anodic compound having been previously contacted with a redox agent such that the anodic compound exists in a different valence state than prior to having been contacted with the redox agent;
• (ii) at least one cathodic compound;
• and
• (iii) a solvent,
• wherein the redox potential of the anodic compound in the different valence state is greater than the redox potential of the cathodic compound while each is contacted with the solvent;
• and
• (f) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochemichromic solution to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

An electrochemichromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

• (a) first and second spaced substrates, each having an interior face and an exterior face, said first and second spaced substrates disposed so as to define a space between the interior face of the first substrate and the interior face of the second substrate;
• (b) an electrochemichromic solution, disposed in said defined space, capable of color change when an applied potential is introduced thereto, said electrochemichromic solution comprising:
• (i) at least one anodic compound, the anodic compound having been previously contacted with a redox agent such that the anodic compound exists in a different valence state than prior to having been contacted with the redox agent;
• (ii) at least one cathodic compound;
• and
• (iii) a solvent,
• wherein the redox potential of the anodic compound in the different valence state is greater than the redox potential of the cathodic compound while each is contacted with the solvent;
• and
• (c) means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochemichromic solution, comprising a substantially transparent conductive coating disposed on at least one of the interior face of the first substrate and the interior face of the second substrate.