CA2268739A1 - Electrochromic layer system in particular for motorcar mirrors - Google Patents
Electrochromic layer system in particular for motorcar mirrors Download PDFInfo
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- CA2268739A1 CA2268739A1 CA002268739A CA2268739A CA2268739A1 CA 2268739 A1 CA2268739 A1 CA 2268739A1 CA 002268739 A CA002268739 A CA 002268739A CA 2268739 A CA2268739 A CA 2268739A CA 2268739 A1 CA2268739 A1 CA 2268739A1
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- layer
- electrochromic
- electrochromic layer
- further characterized
- electrode
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
An electrochromic layer system, in particular for motorcar mirrors, comprising one first transparent, electrically conductive layer deposited on a glass carrier and serving as an electrode, one electrochromic layer, one second electrically conductive layer serving as a backplate electrode, and one reflecting layer. The electrochromic layer includes at least one oxidation-reductionlayer as a metal oxide layer or a polymer layer having a conjugate double bond system, which is deposited upon the electrode. Hence, preferably a storage layer for ions is also provided.
Description
ELECTROCHROMIC LAYER SYSTEM
IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTORCAR MIRRORS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an electrochromic layer system, in particular for motorcar mirrors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are known motorcar mirrors, which can be dipped and comprise an electrochromic layer system, wherein the electrochromic substances are formed as gels or liquids. The electrochromic substances are collected inside a layer structure having electrode layers, further reaction layers of a mirror layer, if necessary, and a final glass.
The motorcar mirror having such a layer structure includes a sensor arrangement for radiation impinging upon the mirror, and depending on the signals of one or more sensors the electrochromic layer is triggered via the electrodes such that the transmission of the layer is controlled depending on the brightness.
With these well-known mirrors and layer structures, respectively, the electrochromic liquid or gel-like layer has to be sealed outwards, whereby the manufacturing effort is increased. Moreover, it is extremely difficult with the curved mirrors to constantly maintain the distance between the limiting surfaces of the electrochromic layer and thus the curvature thereof. If the distance of the limiting surfaces and its curvature, respectively, change to each other, the optical features deteriorate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is an electrochromic layer system for motorcar mirrors comprising a first transparent, electrically conductive layer serving as an electrode, which is deposited upon a glass carrier, a electrochromic layer, a second electrically conductive layer serving as a backplate electrode and a reflecting layer. The system is characterized by the electrochromic layer (3, 4, 5) comprising an oxidation-reduction layer (3) deposited on the electrode.
Hence the invention is based on the object, to provide an electrochromic layer structure, in particular for motorcar mirrors, which is less expensive in its structure and comprise good optics.
As a result of forming the electrochromic layer as an oxidation-reduction layer directly deposited upon the electrode, on the one hand, and as an organic polymer layer having a conjugate double bond system, on the other hand, layer thicknesses may be exactly observed, in particular with curved substrates as well, such that the optics of the mirror are not impaired. Moreover, manufacturingthe mirror is simpler, since the layer structure does not have to be sealed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrochromic layer system according to the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, an electrochromic mirror is generally shown at 10 and comprises a first layer, or substrate, 1 formed as a glass, upon which the subsequent layers are deposited. A transparent, electrically conductive coating, or electrode layer
IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTORCAR MIRRORS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an electrochromic layer system, in particular for motorcar mirrors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are known motorcar mirrors, which can be dipped and comprise an electrochromic layer system, wherein the electrochromic substances are formed as gels or liquids. The electrochromic substances are collected inside a layer structure having electrode layers, further reaction layers of a mirror layer, if necessary, and a final glass.
The motorcar mirror having such a layer structure includes a sensor arrangement for radiation impinging upon the mirror, and depending on the signals of one or more sensors the electrochromic layer is triggered via the electrodes such that the transmission of the layer is controlled depending on the brightness.
With these well-known mirrors and layer structures, respectively, the electrochromic liquid or gel-like layer has to be sealed outwards, whereby the manufacturing effort is increased. Moreover, it is extremely difficult with the curved mirrors to constantly maintain the distance between the limiting surfaces of the electrochromic layer and thus the curvature thereof. If the distance of the limiting surfaces and its curvature, respectively, change to each other, the optical features deteriorate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is an electrochromic layer system for motorcar mirrors comprising a first transparent, electrically conductive layer serving as an electrode, which is deposited upon a glass carrier, a electrochromic layer, a second electrically conductive layer serving as a backplate electrode and a reflecting layer. The system is characterized by the electrochromic layer (3, 4, 5) comprising an oxidation-reduction layer (3) deposited on the electrode.
Hence the invention is based on the object, to provide an electrochromic layer structure, in particular for motorcar mirrors, which is less expensive in its structure and comprise good optics.
As a result of forming the electrochromic layer as an oxidation-reduction layer directly deposited upon the electrode, on the one hand, and as an organic polymer layer having a conjugate double bond system, on the other hand, layer thicknesses may be exactly observed, in particular with curved substrates as well, such that the optics of the mirror are not impaired. Moreover, manufacturingthe mirror is simpler, since the layer structure does not have to be sealed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrochromic layer system according to the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, an electrochromic mirror is generally shown at 10 and comprises a first layer, or substrate, 1 formed as a glass, upon which the subsequent layers are deposited. A transparent, electrically conductive coating, or electrode layer
2 is directly deposited onto the substrate 1 by cathode sputtering, for example, which includes a possibly less electric surface resistance. The electrode 2 is composed of indium tin oxide, for example. An oxidation-reduction (redox) layer 3 of tungsten oxide, i.e. Wo3, is directly deposited as a dry film upon the electrode 2 by high-vacuum sputtering, which has electrochromic characteristic features by virtue of oxidation-reduction reactions. The tungsten oxide comprises a spectral distribution with respect to the transmission, which is similar to V ( ) curve. The layer thickness of the tungsten oxide layer 3 may be adapted to the desired deepening grade. It is about between 100 and 1000 Angstrom units.
Instead of tungsten oxide, other metal oxides such as nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, indium oxide and others may be used, wherein the choice depends on the desired spectral distribution, For controlling the oxidation-reductionreactions, a catalyst layer 4 is deposited upon the tungsten oxide layer 3 by vacuum evaporation, sputtering or the like, which layer comprises metals such as platinum, rhodium, palladium or the like. A
storage layer 5 is deposited upon the catalyst layer 4, which for example is comprises a polymer such as polypropyleneor polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) and which for example may be formed as a microporous or nanoporous film. This storage layer 5 serves for the storage of protons, that means of ions being required for the oxidation-reduction reaction (for example H+ or Li+), which are brought in as water for example in a preparatory treatment step or as lithium salt.
Another electrically conductive layer 6, or backplate electrode is deposited upon the storage layer 5, which may simultaneously serve as a reflecting mirror layer, wherein in this case it is composed of chromium. However, it is also conceivable that
Instead of tungsten oxide, other metal oxides such as nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, indium oxide and others may be used, wherein the choice depends on the desired spectral distribution, For controlling the oxidation-reductionreactions, a catalyst layer 4 is deposited upon the tungsten oxide layer 3 by vacuum evaporation, sputtering or the like, which layer comprises metals such as platinum, rhodium, palladium or the like. A
storage layer 5 is deposited upon the catalyst layer 4, which for example is comprises a polymer such as polypropyleneor polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) and which for example may be formed as a microporous or nanoporous film. This storage layer 5 serves for the storage of protons, that means of ions being required for the oxidation-reduction reaction (for example H+ or Li+), which are brought in as water for example in a preparatory treatment step or as lithium salt.
Another electrically conductive layer 6, or backplate electrode is deposited upon the storage layer 5, which may simultaneously serve as a reflecting mirror layer, wherein in this case it is composed of chromium. However, it is also conceivable that
-3-such backplate electrode 6 to be made translucent and a separate mirror layer may be arranged thereover. Finally, a cover layer 7 in form of a protection film is drawn, and added to the electrode layer 6 to protect the entire structure against corrosion.
In another embodiment, in a first step the backplate electrode 6 may be cathodic sputtered upon a glass substrate such that a mirror is formed and subsequentlythe layers 1 to 5 and the mirror are combined to a composite structure.
Light radiation impinging upon the layer system is transmitted through the layers 1 to 5 and reflected on the mirror layer 6 and again transmitted through the layers 5 to 1. When no current is applied to the electrode 2 and the backplate electrode 6, the electrochromic layer composed of the tungsten oxide layer 3, catalyst layer 4 and storage layer 5 has its inherent maximum degree of transmission.
With applying a voltage to the electrodes 2 and 6, an ionic current between the storage layer 5 and the tungsten oxide layer 3 takes place, i.e., the moisture stored inside the storage layer 5, e.g. water, decomposes into H+ and OH- radicals, and an oxidation reaction and reduction reaction, respectively, takes place depending on the direction of the applied voltage. The catalyst layer 4 allows the hydrogen to diffuse more easily into the oxide layer and thus serves for reducing the activation barrier and accelerates the reaction and enables the use of a lower voltage. The colour and the degree of transmission, respectively, change by virtue of the electrochromic reaction such that the mirror is "deepened" and returns again in the original condition during a subsequent direction variation of the applied voltage.
In another embodiment, in a first step the backplate electrode 6 may be cathodic sputtered upon a glass substrate such that a mirror is formed and subsequentlythe layers 1 to 5 and the mirror are combined to a composite structure.
Light radiation impinging upon the layer system is transmitted through the layers 1 to 5 and reflected on the mirror layer 6 and again transmitted through the layers 5 to 1. When no current is applied to the electrode 2 and the backplate electrode 6, the electrochromic layer composed of the tungsten oxide layer 3, catalyst layer 4 and storage layer 5 has its inherent maximum degree of transmission.
With applying a voltage to the electrodes 2 and 6, an ionic current between the storage layer 5 and the tungsten oxide layer 3 takes place, i.e., the moisture stored inside the storage layer 5, e.g. water, decomposes into H+ and OH- radicals, and an oxidation reaction and reduction reaction, respectively, takes place depending on the direction of the applied voltage. The catalyst layer 4 allows the hydrogen to diffuse more easily into the oxide layer and thus serves for reducing the activation barrier and accelerates the reaction and enables the use of a lower voltage. The colour and the degree of transmission, respectively, change by virtue of the electrochromic reaction such that the mirror is "deepened" and returns again in the original condition during a subsequent direction variation of the applied voltage.
-4-In the explained embodiment comprising tungsten oxide, deepening is nearly possible within the entire visible range of wave lengths, i.e. the bell cure shaped spectral distribution becomes flattened in the "dark" condition.
In another embodiment, the electrochromic layer is realized by an organic polymer layer having a conjugate double bond system, i.e. the tungsten oxide layer 3 and the catalyst layer 4 (if available) is substituted by such an organic polymer layer.
The organic polymer layer, which can be dopened for changing the electron structure such that the reaction is supported, in a dipping method, for example, is deposited upon the transparent electrode layer 2 according to the figure.
The storage layer used in the first embodiment may be maintained in connection with the organic polymer layer. Further structure with respect to the backplate electrode and reflecting layer is as described above.
The dopened organic materials as active substance have a similar electrochemical reaction behavior with respect to the oxidation and reduction, wherein a change in the course of the curve is achieved within the visible spectral range as described above. The organic polymer can be selected from polyparaphenylene,methyl substituted conductor-type polyparaphenylene, polythiophene, parahexaphenyl and polyindenefluorene. Hence, according to the desired spectral features, the organic polymer layer may be composed of a combination of two or more materials and several layers of such materials can be provided, respectively.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
In another embodiment, the electrochromic layer is realized by an organic polymer layer having a conjugate double bond system, i.e. the tungsten oxide layer 3 and the catalyst layer 4 (if available) is substituted by such an organic polymer layer.
The organic polymer layer, which can be dopened for changing the electron structure such that the reaction is supported, in a dipping method, for example, is deposited upon the transparent electrode layer 2 according to the figure.
The storage layer used in the first embodiment may be maintained in connection with the organic polymer layer. Further structure with respect to the backplate electrode and reflecting layer is as described above.
The dopened organic materials as active substance have a similar electrochemical reaction behavior with respect to the oxidation and reduction, wherein a change in the course of the curve is achieved within the visible spectral range as described above. The organic polymer can be selected from polyparaphenylene,methyl substituted conductor-type polyparaphenylene, polythiophene, parahexaphenyl and polyindenefluorene. Hence, according to the desired spectral features, the organic polymer layer may be composed of a combination of two or more materials and several layers of such materials can be provided, respectively.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
-5-Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
-6-
Claims (16)
1. An electrochromic layer system, in particular for motorcar mirrors, comprising a first transparent, electrically conductive layer serving as an electrode, which is deposited upon a glass carrier, a electrochromic layer, a second electrically conductive layer serving as a backplate electrode and a reflecting layer, characterized by said electrochromic layer (3, 4, 5) comprising an oxidation-reduction layer (3) deposited on said electrode.
2. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 1 further characterized by said oxidation-reduction layer is formed as a metal oxide layer.
3. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 2 further characterized by said electrochromic layer includes a storage layer (5) for ions in addition to said metal oxide layer (3).
4. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 3 further characterized by a catalyst layer (4) arranged between said metal oxide layer (3) and said storage layer (5).
5. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 4 further characterized by said catalyst layer (4) is formed as a layer containing metals.
6. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 5further characterized by said metal oxide layer is a tungsten oxide layer.
7. An electrochromic layer system, in particular for motorcar mirrors, comprising a first transparent, electrically conductive layer serving as an electrode, which is deposited on a glass carrier, a electrochromic layer, a second electrically conductive layer serving as a backplate electrode and a reflecting layer, characterized by said electrochromic layer comprising an organic polymer layer having a conjugate double bond system.
8. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 7 further characterized by said organic polymer layer is dopened with a material promoting the separation of ions.
9. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 8 further characterized by said electrochromic layer comprising a storage layer for ions in addition to said organic polymer layer.
10. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 9further characterized by said organic polymer is selected from the series of the organic materials polyparaphenylene (PPP), methyl substituted conductor-type polyparaphenylene (m LPPP), polythiophene (PT), parahexaphenyl (PHP) and polyidenefluorene (PIF).
11. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 10 further characterized by said organic polymer layer comprises a combination of two or more organic materials.
12. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 11 further characterized by two or more organic polymer layers of different organic materials or different combinations of organic materials are provided.
13. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 12 further characterized by said storage layer (5) is a microporous or nanoporous layer of polymer such as polypropylene or PMMA.
14. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 13 further characterized by said backplate electrode (6) is simultaneously formed as a reflecting layer.
15. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 14 further characterized by said backplate electrode is sputtered upon a glass carrier.
16. An electrochromic layer system according to claim 15 further characterized by said layer structure is at least partially covered with a protective layer (7).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19816352.5-51 | 1998-04-02 | ||
| DE19816352A DE19816352B4 (en) | 1998-04-02 | 1998-04-02 | Electrochromic layer system, in particular for motor vehicle mirrors |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2268739A1 true CA2268739A1 (en) | 1999-10-02 |
Family
ID=29594670
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002268739A Abandoned CA2268739A1 (en) | 1998-04-02 | 1999-04-06 | Electrochromic layer system in particular for motorcar mirrors |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2268739A1 (en) |
-
1999
- 1999-04-06 CA CA002268739A patent/CA2268739A1/en not_active Abandoned
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