Electrochromic device including lithium-rich anti-perovskite material
An electrochromic (EC) device and method, the EC device including: an optically transparent first substrate; a working electrode disposed on the first substrate and including electrochromic nanoparticles and a flux material having a melting point ranging from about 25° C. to about 500° C.; and an electrolyte disposed on the working electrode. The flux material is configured to prevent or reduce sintering of the nanoparticles at a temperature of up to about 700° C.
1. An electrochromic (EC) device comprising:
an optically transparent first substrate;
a working electrode disposed on the first substrate and comprising electrochromic nanoparticles and a flux material having a melting point ranging from about 25° C. to about 500° C.;
an electrolyte disposed on the working electrode; and
a counter electrode comprising a passive layer disposed on the electrolyte and comprising passive nanoparticles and the flux material, and a complementary layer disposed on the passive layer and comprising complementary nanoparticles and a matrix comprising a lithium metal oxide,
wherein the flux material is configured to prevent or reduce sintering of the nanoparticles at a temperature of up to about 700° C., and
wherein the complementary layer further comprises a flux material comprising a lithium-rich anti-perovskite (LiRAP) material represented by the formula Li 3 OX, wherein X is F, Cl, Br, I, or any combination thereof.
2. The EC device of claim 1 , wherein in the working electrode:
the flux material forms a matrix in which the nanoparticles are disposed;
the flux material and the nanoparticles form a composite; or
the flux material forms shells around the nanoparticles.
3. The EC device of claim 1 , wherein the flux material comprises a lithium-rich anti-perovskite (LiRAP) material represented by the formula Li 3 OX, wherein X is F, Cl, Br, I, or any combination thereof.
4. The EC device of claim 1 , wherein:
the nanoparticles comprise WO 3-x , Cs x WO 3-x , or NbO x , where 0≤x≤0.33; and
the electrolyte comprises a gel electrolyte comprising polyurethane acrylate and a lithium salt.
5. The EC device of claim 1 , wherein the complementary nanoparticles comprise NiO x , where 1≤x≤1.5, Cr 2 O 3 , MnO 2 , FeO 2 , CoO 2 , RhO 2 , IrO 2 , or a combination thereof.
6. The EC device of claim 5 , wherein the complementary nanoparticles comprise NiO x , where 1≤x≤1.5.
7. The EC device of claim 1 , wherein the passive nanoparticles comprise CeO 2 nanoparticles and In 2 O 3 nanoparticles.
8. The EC device of claim 1 , wherein the lithium metal oxide of the matrix comprises LiNbO 3 , Li 2 WO 4 , LiTaO 3 , or any combination thereof.
9. The EC device of claim 1 , wherein the passive layer further comprises a matrix comprising LiNbO 3 , Li 2 WO 4 , LiTaO 3 , or any combination thereof.
10. The EC device of claim 1 , further comprising a glass second substrate disposed on the counter electrode,
wherein the EC device is heat-bent or heat-formed, and has at least one of a radius of curvature value of at least 5 mm or a centerline convex value X of at least 5 mm, wherein the centerline convex value X is the distance between the apex of the interior surface of the EC device and a line connecting two opposing ends of the EC device.
11. The EC device of claim 10 , wherein:
the first substrate is a glass substrate; and
the EC device comprises part of a vehicle window.
12. A method of making an electrochromic (EC) device, the method comprising:
forming at least a portion of an EC device on an optically transparent first substrate, the EC device comprising nanoparticles and a flux material having a melting point ranging from about 25° C. to about 500° C.;
heating the nanoparticles such that the flux material melts and prevents or reduces sintering of the nanoparticles; and
cooling the nanoparticles such that the flux material solidifies around the nanoparticles,
wherein:
the first substrate comprises a glass substrate;
the electrochromic nanoparticles comprise WO 3-x , Cs x , CO 3-x , or NbO x , where 0≤x≤0.33; and
the flux material comprises a lithium-rich anti-perovskite (LiRAP) material represented by the formula Li 3 OX, wherein X is F, Cl, Br, I, or any combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the heating comprises bending or forming the EC device in a mold such that the EC device has at least one of a radius of curvature of at least 5 mm or a centerline convex value X of at least 5 mm, and wherein the centerline convex value X is the distance between the apex of the interior surface of the EC device and a line connecting two opposing ends of the EC device.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the cooling comprises quenching the EC device to heat temper the first substrate.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the heating and the cooling heat-strengthens the first substrate.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the nanoparticles are electrochromic nanoparticles disposed in a working electrode with the flux material; and
the method further comprises disposing an electrolyte on the working electrode and disposing a counter electrode on the electrolyte before or after the heating, the counter electrode comprising:
a passive layer disposed on the electrolyte and comprising passive nanoparticles and a matrix comprising a lithium metal oxide; and
a complementary layer disposed on the passive layer and comprising complementary nanoparticles, passive nanoparticles, and the flux material.
17. A method of making an electrochromic (EC) device, the method comprising:
forming at least a portion of an EC device on an optically transparent first substrate, the EC device comprising electrochromic nanoparticles disposed in a working electrode with a flux material having a melting point ranging from about 25° C. to about 500° C.;
heating the nanoparticles such that the flux material melts and prevents or reduces sintering of the nanoparticles; and
cooling the nanoparticles such that the flux material solidifies around the nanoparticles,
disposing an electrolyte on the working electrode and disposing a counter electrode on the electrolyte before or after the heating, the counter electrode comprising:
a passive layer disposed on the electrolyte and comprising passive nanoparticles and a matrix comprising a lithium metal oxide; and
a complementary layer disposed on the passive layer and comprising complementary nanoparticles, passive nanoparticles, and the flux material.
18. An electrochromic (EC) device comprising:
an optically transparent first substrate;
a working electrode disposed on the first substrate and comprising electrochromic nanoparticles and a flux material having a melting point ranging from about 25° C. to about 500° C.;
an electrolyte disposed on the working electrode; and
a counter electrode comprising a passive layer disposed on the electrolyte and comprising passive nanoparticles and the flux material, and a complementary layer disposed on the passive layer and comprising complementary nanoparticles and a matrix comprising a lithium metal oxide,
wherein the flux material is configured to prevent or reduce sintering of the nanoparticles at a temperature of up to about 700° C., and
wherein the lithium metal oxide of the matrix comprises LiNbO 3 , Li 2 WO 4 , LiTaO 3 , or any combination thereof.
19. An electrochromic (EC) device comprising:
an optically transparent first substrate;
a working electrode disposed on the first substrate and comprising electrochromic nanoparticles and a flux material having a melting point ranging from about 25° C. to about 500° C.;
an electrolyte disposed on the working electrode; and
a counter electrode comprising a passive layer disposed on the electrolyte and comprising passive nanoparticles and the flux material, and a complementary layer disposed on the passive layer and comprising complementary nanoparticles and a matrix comprising a lithium metal oxide,
wherein the flux material is configured to prevent or reduce sintering of the nanoparticles at a temperature of up to about 700° C., and
wherein the passive layer further comprises a matrix comprising LiNbO 3 , Li 2 WO 4 , LiTaO 3 , or any combination thereof.