Electro-optical element including IMI coatings

An electrochromic element comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a gap therebetween, the second and third surfaces opposing each other;
• an electrochromic medium located in the gap, the electrochromic medium having a light transmittance that is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;
• and
• a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the second surface and the third surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a stack including a first insulator layer, at least one metal layer and a second insulator layer,
• wherein at least one of the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer comprises at least a select one of indium zinc oxide, indium tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, electrically conductive TiO2, CeOx, tin dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, ZnS, chromium oxide, niobium oxide, ZrOx, WO3, nickel oxide, IrO2 and
• wherein the insulating layer of the stack that is in contact with the electrochromic medium has a resistance of greater than or equal to 10 MOhms.

An electrochromic element comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a gap therebetween, the second and third surfaces opposing each other;
• an electrochromic medium located in the gap, the electrochromic medium having a light transmittance that is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;
• a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the second surface and the third surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a stack including a first insulator layer, at least one metal layer and a second insulator layer;
• and
• a barrier layer positioned between the first insulator layer of the stack and the select surface that the transparent electrode layer covers,
• wherein at least one of the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer comprises at least a select one of indium zinc oxide, indium tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, electrically conductive TiO2, CeOx, tin dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, ZnS, chromium oxide, niobium oxide, ZrOx, WO3, nickel oxide, IrO2, and
• wherein the barrier layer comprises at least a select one of ruthenium, NiCr, NiCrOx, copper, titanium, niobium, nickel, palladium, platinum, and combinations thereof

An electrochromic element comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a gap therebetween, the second and third surfaces opposing each other;
• an electrochromic medium located in the gap, the electrochromic medium having a light transmittance that is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;
• a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the second surface and the third surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a stack including a first insulator layer, at least one metal layer and a second insulator layer;
• and
• a barrier layer positioned between the first insulator layer of the stack and the select surface that the transparent electrode layer covers,
• wherein at least one of the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer comprises at least a select one of indium zinc oxide, indium tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, electrically conductive TiO2, CeOx, tin dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, ZnS, chromium oxide, niobium oxide, ZrOx, WO3 nickel oxide, IrO2, and
• wherein the barrier layer comprises at least a select one of silica, doped silica, phosphorus-doped silica, amorphous alumina, aluminum phosphate, SiN, and SnZnOx.

An electrochromic element comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a gap therebetween, the second and third surfaces opposing each other;
• an electrochromic medium located in the gap, the electrochromic medium having a light transmittance that is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;
• and
• a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the second surface and the third surface,
• wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a stack including a first insulator layer proximate the electrochromic medium, at least one metal layer and a second insulator layer, and
• wherein the first insulator comprises indium tin oxide, and wherein the transmittance of the transparent electrode is greater than or equal to about 75%.

An electrochromic element comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a gap therebetween, the second and third surfaces opposing each other;
• an electrochromic medium located in the gap, the electrochromic medium having a light transmittance that is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;
• and
• a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the second surface and the third surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a stack including a first insulator layer, a metal layer, and a second insulator layer, and an electrical stabilization layer positioned between the metal layer and at least one of the insulator layers,
• wherein the electrical stabilization layer increases a value of a breakdown potential of the metal layer by at least about 0.05 volts.

An electrochromic element comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced apart relationship so as to define a gap therebetween, the second and third surfaces opposing each other;
• an electrochromic medium located in the gap, the electrochromic medium having a light transmittance that is variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;
• and
• a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the second surface and the third surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a stack including a first insulator layer, a metal layer, and a second insulator layer,
• wherein the metal layer comprises silver and at least one of the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer comprises at least one of zinc oxide and Sb, and
• wherein any of the first and second insulator layers has an absolute stress of less than 3 GPa.