Multi-layer electrode for high contrast electrochromic devices
View Patent ↗An electrochromic device includes a first substrate spaced from a second substrate. A first transparent conductive electrode is formed over at least a portion of the first substrate. A polymeric anode is formed over at least a portion of the first conductive electrode. A second transparent conductive electrode is formed over at least a portion of the second substrate. In one aspect of the invention, a multi-layer polymeric cathode is formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode. In one non-limiting embodiment, the multi-layer cathode includes a first cathodically coloring polymer formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode and a second cathodically coloring polymer formed over at least a portion of the first cathodically coloring polymer. An ionic liquid is positioned between the anode and the cathode.
1. An electrochromic device, comprising:
a first substrate spaced from a second substrate;
a first transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the first substrate;
a polymeric anode formed over at least a portion of the first conductive electrode, said polymeric anode comprising polyaniline;
a second transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the second substrate;
a multi-layer polymeric cathode formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode; and
an ionic liquid positioned between the anode and the cathode.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second conductive electrodes are selected from indium tin oxide or fluorine doped tin oxide.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric cathode comprises a first cathodic polymer formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode and comprising poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and a second cathodic polymer formed over at least a portion of the first cathode polymer and comprising at least one of poly(3,4-(2′,2′-dimethylpropylene)-dioxythiophene) or poly(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b]-1,4 dioxin).
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first cathodic polymer has a thickness in the range of 100 nm to 500 nm.
5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the second cathodic polymer has a thickness in the range of 100 nm to 1 micron.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer cathode comprises a first cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl), a second cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b]-1,4 dioxin) and a third cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(3,4-(2′,2′-dimethylpropylene)-dioxythiophene).
7. An electrochromic device, comprising:
a first glass substrate spaced from a second glass substrate;
a first transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the first substrate, the first electrode selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide and fluorine doped tin oxide;
a polymeric anode formed over at least a portion of the first conductive electrode, wherein the polymeric anode comprises polyaniline;
a second transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the second substrate, the second electrode selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide and fluorine doped tin oxide;
a multi-layer polymeric cathode formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode, wherein the polymeric cathode comprises a first cathodic polymer formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode and comprising poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and a second cathodic polymer formed over at least a portion of the first cathode polymer and comprising at least one of poly(3,4-(2′,2′-dimethylpropylene)-dioxythiophene) or poly(2,3-dihydrothieno [3,4-b]-1,4 dioxin); and
an ionic liquid positioned between the anode and the cathode.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the multi-layer cathode comprises a first cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl), a second cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b]-1,4 dioxin) and a third cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(3,4-(2′,2′-dimethylpropylene)-dioxythiophene).
9. An electrochromic device, comprising:
a first substrate spaced from a second substrate;
a first transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the first substrate;
a polymeric anode formed over at least a portion of the first conductive electrode;
a second transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the second substrate;
a multi-layer polymeric cathode formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode; and
an ionic liquid positioned between the anode and the cathode,
wherein said multi-layer polymeric cathode comprises,
a first cathodic polymer formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode and comprising poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl), and
a second cathodic polymer formed over at least a portion of the first cathode polymer and comprising at least one of poly(3,4-(2′,2′-dimethylpropylene)-dioxythiophene) or poly(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b]-1,4-dioxin).
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first cathodic polymer has a thickness in the range of 100 nm to 500 nm.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the second cathodic polymer has a thickness in the range of 100 nm to 1 micron.
12. An electrochromic device, comprising:
a first substrate spaced from a second substrate;
a first transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the first substrate;
a polymeric anode formed over at least a portion of the first conductive electrode;
a second transparent conductive electrode formed over at least a portion of the second substrate;
a multi-layer polymeric cathode formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode; and
an ionic liquid positioned between the anode and the cathode,
wherein said multi-layer cathode comprises,
a first cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl),
a second cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(2,3-dihydrothieno [3,4-b]-1,4-dioxin), and
a third cathodic polymer layer comprising poly(3,4-(2′,2′-dimethylpropylene)-dioxythiophene).