IP Library Granted Patent US 12698435
Granted Patent B2
US 12698435 · App. 19/400,855 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Control of electrochromic devices having electrochromic dyes

Inventors: Anoop Agrawal (Tucson, AZ); John Cronin (Tucson, AZ); Lori Adams (Oro Valley, AZ); Sahila Perananthan (Tucson, AZ)
Assignee: GLASS DYENAMICS, INC.
C09K9/02G02F1/1516G02F1/1525
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12698435
App. No.
19/400,855
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure provides compositions of electrochromic dyes, functionalized electrochromic dyes and dye macromers which may be incorporated into electrochromic devices with tailored optical properties. The disclosure provides electrochromic devices and electrochromic materials which do not use halogenated anions. This disclosure also provides EC compositions and devices for controlling color.

Claims (36)

1 . An electrochromic device which reversibly colors from a bleached state to a dark state, wherein in a fully colored state, a* and b* are between +6 and −20, and the electrochromic device contains at least three dyes, wherein one of the at least three dyes is a viologen salt, and two dyes are selected from two different classes of dyes, wherein the two different classes of dyes are selected from the group consisting of a thiophene, a phenothiazine, a phenazine, an indandione, a triphenylamine, a dithiafulvenyl, a tetrahydroquinoline, a carbazole, an anthraquinone, and an indoline.

2 . The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic device further contains a material with a ferrocene group.

3 . The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the viologen salt is part of a bridged dye.

4 . The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic device comprises an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte further contains at least one material selected from the group consisting of a dissociable salt, a UV stabilizer, and a polymeric material.

5 . The electrochromic device of claim 4 , wherein the electrolyte comprises the polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is a thermoplastic or is crosslinked.

6 . The electrochromic device of claim 4 , wherein the electrolyte comprises the dissociable salt, wherein the dissociable salt comprises an anion that is not halogenated.

7 . The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the viologen salt comprises an anion that is not halogenated.

8 . An electrochromic device having two electrically conductive coatings deposited on two clear substrates, wherein at least one of the two electrically conductive coatings is transparent, and the electrochromic device contains an electrolyte between the two electrically conductive coatings, wherein the electrochromic device reversibly colors from a bleached state to a dark state, wherein in a fully colored state, a* and b* are between +6 and −20, and the electrolyte contains at least three dyes, wherein one of the at least three dyes is a viologen salt, and the two dyes are selected from two different classes of dyes, wherein the two different classes of dyes are selected from the group consisting of a thiophene, a phenothiazine, a phenazine, an indandione, a triphenylamine, a dithiafulvenyl, a tetrahydroquinoline, a carbazole, an anthraquinone, and an indoline.

9 . The electrochromic device of claim 8 , wherein the electrolyte further contains a material with a ferrocene group.

10 . The electrochromic device of claim 8 , wherein the viologen salt is part of a bridged dye.

11 . The electrochromic device of claim 10 , wherein the phenazine has the following structure:

wherein R13 and R18 are C1 to C12 alkyl groups and are the same, and where R12, R20 R19, R14, R16 and R17 are all hydrogen; and R11 and R15 are the same and are C1 to C12 linear or branched alkyl groups.

12 . The electrochromic device of claim 10 , wherein the phenothiazine has the following structure:

wherein R23 is hydrogen, phenyl or C1 to C12 alkyl; and R21, R22, R24, R25, R27, and R28 are all hydrogen; and R26 and R29 are the same and are C1 to C12 linear or branched alkyl groups.

13 . The electrochromic device of claim 8 , wherein the electrolyte further contains at least one material selected from the group consisting of a dissociable salt, a UV stabilizer, and a polymeric material.

14 . The electrochromic device of claim 13 , wherein the electrolyte comprises the polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is thermoplastic or is crosslinked.

15 . The electrochromic device of claim 13 , wherein the electrolyte comprises the dissociable salt, wherein the dissociable salt comprises an anion that is not halogenated.

16 . The electrochromic device of claim 15 , wherein the electrolyte further contains at least one material selected from the group consisting of a dissociable salt, a UV stabilizer, and a polymeric material.

17 . The electrochromic device of claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte comprises the dissociable salt, wherein the dissociable salt comprises an anion that is not halogenated.

18 . The electrochromic device of claim 8 , wherein the phenazine has the following structure:

wherein R13 and R18 are C1 to C12 alkyl groups and are the same, and wherein R12, R11, R20 R19, R14, R15, R16 and R17 are all hydrogen.

19 . The electrochromic device of claim 8 , wherein the phenothiazine has the following structure:

wherein R23 is hydrogen, phenyl or C1 to C12 alkyl groups, and wherein R21, R22, R24, R25, R26, R27, R28 and R29 are all hydrogen.

20 . The electrochromic device of claim 8 , wherein the viologen salt comprises an anion that is not halogenated.

21 . An electrochromic device having two electrically conductive coatings deposited on two substrates, wherein at least one of the two substrates is transparent, and the electrochromic device contains an electrolyte between the two electrically conductive coatings, wherein the device reversibly colors from a bleached state to a dark state, wherein in a fully colored state, a* and b* are between +6 and −20, and the electrolyte contains at least three dyes, wherein one of the at least three dyes is a viologen salt, and two dyes are selected from two different classes of dyes, wherein the two different classes of dyes are selected from the group consisting of a thiophene, a phenothiazine, and a phenazine.

22 . The electrochromic device of claim 21 , wherein the electrochromic device further contains a material with a ferrocene group.

23 . The electrochromic device of claim 21 , wherein the viologen salt is part of a bridged dye.

24 . The electrochromic device of claim 21 , wherein the phenazine has the following structure

wherein R13 and R18 are C1 to C12 alkyl groups and are the same, and wherein R12, R11, R20 R19, R14, R15, R16 and R17 are all hydrogen.

25 . The electrochromic device of claim 21 , wherein the phenazine has the following structure

wherein R13 and R18 are C1 to C12 alkyl groups and are the same, and where R12, R20 R19, R14, R16 and R17 are all hydrogen; and R11 and R15 are the same and are C1 to C12 linear or branched alkyl groups.

26 . The electrochromic device of claim 21 , wherein the phenothiazine has the following structure

wherein R23 is hydrogen, phenyl or C1 to C12 alkyl groups, and wherein R21, R22, R24, R25, R26, R27, R28 and R29 are all hydrogen.

27 . The electrochromic device of claim 21 , wherein the phenothiazine has the following structure:

wherein R23 is hydrogen, phenyl or C1 to C12 alkyl; and R21, R22, R24, R25, R27, and R28 are all hydrogen; and R26 and R29 are the same and are C1 to C12 linear or branched alkyl groups.

28 . The electrochromic device of claim 21 , wherein the viologen salt comprises an anion that is not halogenated.