Multi-cell solid-state electrochromic device
View Patent ↗A multi-cell electrochromic device comprises a plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells that are arranged in an optical alignment. Each electrochromic cell is separated from an adjacent electrochromic cell in the optical alignment by a transparent conductive layer that is shared by the two adjacent electrochromic cells.
1. A multi-cell electrochromic device, comprising:
a plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells arranged in an optical alignment, each electrochromic cell being separated from an adjacent electrochromic cell in the optical alignment by a transparent conductive layer that is shared by the two adjacent electrochromic cells,
a first electrochromic cell of the plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells comprising:
a first transparent conductive layer;
a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;
an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
the shared transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer; and
a second electrochromic cell of the plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells comprising:
an electrochromic layer formed in direct contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer;
a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
a second transparent conductive layer formed in direct contact with counter electrode layer,
each electrochromic layer comprises tungsten oxide WO 3 , vanadium oxide V 2 O 5 , niobium oxide Nb 2 O 3 or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each counter electrode layer comprises nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each ion conductor layer comprises silicon oxide SiO 2 , titanium oxide TiO 2 , aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 , or tantalum oxide Ta 2 O 5 , and
a first voltage being applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the shared transparent conductive layer, and a second voltage being applied between the shared transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, the first and second voltages being different from each other.
2. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 1 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colored when a negative voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
3. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 1 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colorless when a positive voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
4. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, or the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising H+, Li+ or Na+.
5. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a substrate, and
wherein the first transparent conductive layer is formed in contact with the substrate.
6. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 1 , wherein the shared transparent conductive layer comprises at least one ion blocking layers.
7. A multi-cell electrochromic device, comprising:
a plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells arranged in an optical alignment, each electrochromic cell being separated from an adjacent electrochromic cell in the optical alignment by a transparent conductive layer that is shared by the two adjacent electrochromic cells,
a first electrochromic cell of the plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells comprising:
a first transparent conductive layer;
a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;
an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
the shared transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer; and
a second electrochromic cell of the plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells comprising:
an electrochromic layer formed in direct contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer;
a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
a second transparent conductive layer formed in direct contact with counter electrode layer,
each electrochromic layer comprises tungsten oxide WO 3 , vanadium oxide V 2 O 5 , niobium oxide Nb 2 O 3 or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each counter electrode layer comprises nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each ion conductor layer comprises silicon oxide SiO 2 , titanium oxide TiO 2 , aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 , or tantalum oxide Ta 2 O 5 , and
a voltage being applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and no voltage being applied to the shared conductive layer.
8. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, or the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising H+, Li+ or Na+.
9. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 7 , wherein the shared transparent conductive layer comprises at least one ion blocking layers.
10. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 7 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colored when a negative voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
11. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 7 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colorless when a positive voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
12. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 7 , further comprising a substrate, and
wherein the first transparent conductive layer is formed in contact with the substrate.
13. A multi-cell electrochromic device, comprising:
a plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells arranged in an optical alignment, each electrochromic cell being separated from an adjacent electrochromic cell in the optical alignment by a transparent conductive layer that is shared by the two adjacent electrochromic cells,
a first electrochromic cell comprises:
a first transparent conductive layer;
an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer;
a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
the shared transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer; and
a second electrochromic cell comprising:
a counter electrode layer formed in direct contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;
an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
a second transparent conductive layer formed in direct contact with electrochromic layer,
each electrochromic layer comprises tungsten oxide WO 3 , vanadium oxide V 2 O 5 , niobium oxide Nb 2 O 3 or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each counter electrode layer comprises nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each ion conductor layer comprises silicon oxide SiO 2 , titanium oxide TiO 2 , aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 , or tantalum oxide Ta 2 O 5 , and
a first voltage being applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the shared transparent conductive layer, and a second voltage being applied between the shared transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, the first and second voltages being different from each other.
14. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, or the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising H+, Li+ or Na+.
15. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 13 , wherein the shared transparent conductive layer comprises at least one ion blocking layers.
16. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 13 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colored when a negative voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
17. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 13 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colorless when a positive voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
18. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 13 , further comprising a substrate, and
wherein the first transparent conductive layer is formed in contact with the substrate.
19. A multi-cell electrochromic device, comprising:
a plurality of solid-state electrochromic cells arranged in an optical alignment, each electrochromic cell being separated from an adjacent electrochromic cell in the optical alignment by a transparent conductive layer that is shared by the two adjacent electrochromic cells,
a first electrochromic cell comprises:
a first transparent conductive layer;
an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the first transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the electrochromic layer;
a counter electrode layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
the shared transparent conductive layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer; and
a second electrochromic cell comprising:
a counter electrode layer formed in direct contact with the shared transparent conductive layer;
an ion conductor layer formed in contact with the counter electrode layer;
an electrochromic layer formed in contact with the ion conductor layer; and
a second transparent conductive layer formed in direct contact with electrochromic layer,
each electrochromic layer comprises tungsten oxide WO 3 , vanadium oxide V 2 O 5 , niobium oxide Nb 2 O 3 or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each counter electrode layer comprises nickel oxide NiO, tungsten-doped nickel oxide, or iridium oxide IrO 2 ,
each ion conductor layer comprises silicon oxide SiO 2 , titanium oxide TiO 2 , aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 , or tantalum oxide Ta 2 O 5 , and
a voltage being applied between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and no voltage being applied to the shared conductive layer.
20. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 19 , wherein the shared transparent conductive layer comprises at least one ion blocking layers.
21. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 19 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colored when a negative voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
22. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 19 , wherein both the electrochromic layer and the counter electrode become colorless when a positive voltage is applied between the first transparent layer and the shared transparent layer.
23. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 19 , further comprising a substrate, and
wherein the first transparent conductive layer is formed in contact with the substrate.
24. The multi-cell electrochromic device according to claim 19 , wherein at least one of the electrochromic layer, the ion conductor layer, or the counter electrode layer further comprises insertion ions comprising H+, Li+ or Na+.