METHODS OF MANUFACTURING ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES CONTAINING A SOLID-STATE ELECTROLYTE
A free-standing polymer electrolyte for an electrochromic device includes a polymer network, a plasticizer and an electrolyte salt containing at least one of lithium or sodium ions. The free-standing polymer electrolyte may exclude tetraglyme.
1 . A free-standing polymer electrolyte for an electrochromic device comprising a polymer network, a plasticizer, and an electrolyte salt containing at least one of lithium or sodium ions, wherein the free-standing polymer electrolyte excludes tetraglyme.
2 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the free-standing polymer electrolyte is not disposed between working and counter electrodes of the electrochromic device.
3 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the free-standing polymer electrolyte is disposed between working and counter electrodes of the electrochromic device.
4 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte salt comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and the plasticizer comprises dihydrolevoglucosenone.
5 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer comprises propylene carbonate or ethylene carbonate.
6 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer comprises a compound having a formula R1—O—(C 2 H 4 O)n—O—R2, where R1 and R2 are independently selected from alkyl, aryl or carbonate groups or hydrogen, n ranges from 1 to 50, and a melting point of the compound is less than -10° C.
7 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 6 , wherein the plasticizer comprises Triethylene Glycol Mono-2-Ethylhexanoate or Triethylene Glycol Di-2-Ethylhexanoate.
8 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the polymer network comprises polyurethane.
9 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the polymer network comprises polyvinyl butyral.
10 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the polymer network comprises vinyl acetate.
11 . The free-standing polymer electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the polymer network comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.
12 . A method of providing an electrochromic (EC) device, comprising:
providing a solid-state polymer electrolyte layer comprising a polymer network, a plasticizer and an electrolyte salt containing at least one of lithium or sodium ions, wherein the free-standing polymer electrolyte layer excludes tetraglyme; and
after providing the solid-state polymer electrolyte layer, laminating the solid-state polymer electrolyte layer between a working electrode and a counter electrode form the EC device.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of providing the solid-state polymer electrolyte layer comprises extruding a composition comprising the polymer network, the plasticizer and the electrolyte salt to form a free-standing layer comprising the polymer network, the plasticizer and the electrolyte salt.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
disposing the EC device in a window frame; and
connecting the EC device to a control unit configured to control the transmittance of the EC device.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte salt comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI).
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plasticizer comprises propylene carbonate or ethylene carbonate.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plasticizer comprises a compound having a formula R1—O—(C 2 H 4 O)n—O—R2, where R1 and R2 are independently selected from alkyl, aryl or carbonate groups or hydrogen, n ranges from 1 to 50, and a melting point of the compound is less than -10° C.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plasticizer comprises Triethylene Glycol Mono-2-Ethylhexanoate or Triethylene Glycol Di-2-Ethylhexanoate.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymer network comprises polyurethane.
20 . The method claim 12 , wherein the polymer network comprises polyvinyl butyral.
21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymer network comprises vinyl acetate.
22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymer network comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.
23 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plasticizer comprises a solvent comprising dihydrolevoglucosenone, propylene carbonate, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, acetonitrile, butylene carbonate, sulfolane, polyethylene glycol or water.
24 . A free-standing polymer electrolyte for an electrochromic device comprising a polymer network, a plasticizer comprising dihydrolevoglucosenone, and an electrolyte salt containing at least one of lithium or sodium ions.