WO2010040954A1 - Systeme electroactif transparent - Google Patents
Systeme electroactif transparent Download PDFInfo
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- WO2010040954A1 WO2010040954A1 PCT/FR2009/051911 FR2009051911W WO2010040954A1 WO 2010040954 A1 WO2010040954 A1 WO 2010040954A1 FR 2009051911 W FR2009051911 W FR 2009051911W WO 2010040954 A1 WO2010040954 A1 WO 2010040954A1
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- electrodes
- substances
- electroactive
- cells
- barrier
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/15—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect
- G02F1/153—Constructional details
- G02F1/1533—Constructional details structural features not otherwise provided for
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/15—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect
- G02F1/1514—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material
- G02F1/1523—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material comprising inorganic material
- G02F1/1525—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material comprising inorganic material characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/15—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect
- G02F1/1514—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material
- G02F2001/15145—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/15—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect
- G02F1/153—Constructional details
- G02F1/155—Electrodes
- G02F2001/1557—Side by side arrangements of working and counter electrodes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a transparent electroactive system.
- electroactive substances with oxidation-reduction potentials which are different.
- Such substances which are electrochemically active, can each be converted between an oxidized form and a reduced form, depending on an electrical potential created at the location of this substance.
- They may be electrochromic substances, and reference may be made to the following document: P. M. S. Monk, RJ. Mortimer and D. R. Rosseinsky,
- the electroactive substances are chosen according to their electric potential for oxidation-reduction, and a variation in light absorption and / or color that they have between their oxidized and reduced forms.
- the light transmission of the system and / or its color can be modified by the electrical control.
- Electrical control is an electrical potential difference or an electric current that is imposed between two electrodes that are in contact with a medium containing the electroactive substances.
- This medium is a liquid and / or a gel, so that the electroactive substances can each diffuse or migrate to one of the electrodes.
- a first of the substances comes into contact with the electrode which has the highest potential, it is oxidized.
- a second substance that comes into contact with the electrode that has the lowest potential is reduced.
- the two substances are therefore converted inversely with respect to the oxidized and reduced forms, and the overall variation in the light transmission and / or the color of the system results from the individual variations of absorption and / or of color of each substance between its oxidized and reduced forms.
- Both electrodes are transparent. They may be based on a tin-doped indium oxide, commonly referred to as ITO for "indium-tin oxide” in English, or based on doped tin oxide, for example with fluorine (FTO for "fluorine tin oxide”), based on a sufficiently thin metallic layer, or an invisible metallic grid, etc.
- ITO indium-tin oxide
- FTO fluorine tin oxide
- the two electrodes may be disposed on two opposite sides of a volume which encloses the medium with the electroactive substances. But in such a configuration of the system, the same light beam that is transmitted through the system passes through one of the electrodes, the electroactive substance medium and the other electrode. The respective residual light absorptions of the two electrodes are cumulative, and result in a reduction of the light transmission of the system. But the materials commonly used for electrodes have light absorptions that are noticeable, and that make the system too dark for some applications.
- the two electrodes can be juxtaposed on the same side of the medium that contains the electroactive substances.
- systems that are made according to this alternative configuration are not completely transparent. They can be diffusing or diffracting because of the difference in index between the material which constitutes the electrodes and that which is present in the intervals of separation between these electrodes.
- the separation distance between the two electrodes is large, the separation interval between them becomes visible because of the different light absorptions between the materials that constitute these electrodes and those constituting the separation interval.
- An object of the present invention is therefore to provide electroactive systems which are transparent and which do not have the drawbacks mentioned above.
- the invention proposes a transparent electroactive system which allows a distinct vision through this system, and which comprises:
- first and second electroactive substances which are distributed in the liquid or gel, with respective electrical redox potentials which are different, at least some of the first and second electroactive substances having a variable optical effect between an oxidized form and a reduced form of these substances.
- the system of the invention is characterized in that the two electrodes are carried by one of the two outer walls being juxtaposed parallel to this wall on one side of the closed volume which contains the liquid or gel, with a separation distance between these electrodes which is less than 250 ⁇ m (micrometer).
- the system further comprises a barrier which extends between the two electrodes, up to a height h which may depend on the mobility of the substances, the electric field applied thereto and the geometry of the system. In general, this height, measured from one level average of the electronic transfer surfaces of the two electrodes, is between 1 and 20 microns (micrometer).
- a system according to the invention is both transparent and has a configuration in which the two electrodes are on the same side of the volume that contains the electroactive substances. With this configuration, the same light beam passes through only one of the two electrodes, instead of both. The system can then have a high level of light transmission.
- transparency means the possibility of seeing distinctly any object or scene that is located on one side of the system, from the other side through this system.
- the light that passes through the system is not affected in a way that could blur the vision.
- it is not scattered or diffracted, so that a point light source that is located away from the system on one side of it is perceived as a point across the system, from the other side. side.
- the two electrodes are sufficiently close to each other parallel to the common wall which carries them, so that the separation interval between these electrodes is not visible to the naked eye.
- the separation distance between the two electrodes may be less than 100 ⁇ m, or even between 1 and 40 ⁇ m, to be even less visible.
- the invention provides for a barrier between the two electrodes, in the separation interval between them, which extends inwardly of the volume containing the electroactive substances.
- the system does not have an intermediate band between the two electrodes, in which no variable optical activity could be voluntarily controlled.
- the effective surface of the system which actively produces the variation of light transmission and / or color, is increased.
- the system can then have an apparent contrast that is higher.
- the height of the barrier may be greater than or equal to 5 ⁇ m beyond the average level of the electronic transfer surfaces of the two electrodes. Diffusion or residual migration of the electroactive substances between the two electrodes, which may lead to a residual neutralization of the substances which are oxidized or reduced to the electrodes, is then further reduced.
- a first advantage of the invention results from the liquid or gel state of the medium in which the electroactive substances are dispersed. Thanks to this state, the electroactive substances can diffuse or migrate more rapidly towards one or the other of the two electrodes, so that the system has a short response time to a switching command which is applied by varying the voltage delivered. by the power supply. This state of liquid or medium gel also simplifies the manufacturing process of the system.
- a second advantage results from the configuration with two electrodes which are carried by the same wall.
- the system can be realized more simply and with fewer process steps.
- the two electrodes can be made simultaneously, with deposition and etching steps that are common.
- a requirement for alignment of the two outer walls, one with respect to the other during assembly of the system, is relaxed.
- the system may further comprise an internal wall network which forms a partition of the closed volume in cells juxtaposed parallel to the outer walls. At least one of the two electrodes is then in contact with the liquid or gel that is contained in each cell. Thanks to such a partition of the volume which is between the two outer walls, the liquid or gel which contains the electroactive substances of the entire system can not flow outwards. when one of the cells becomes open. Only the amount of liquid or gel that is contained in the open cell can then leak, so that the integrity and functionality of the system are retained for all cells other than the open one. In particular, such a partition makes it possible to cut the system, without being damaged other than on the path of the cut.
- the inner walls may have a function of spacers, to maintain a constant spacing between the outer walls.
- the internal walls also prevent settling occurs within the liquid or gel.
- the inner walls may each have a height that is greater than or equal to the height of the barrier, preferably between 5 microns and 25 microns, perpendicular to the outer walls. Indeed, such a thickness of the medium that contains the electroactive substances provides a significant contrast between two extreme switching states controlled by the variation of the voltage that is applied between the two electrodes.
- the two electrodes are each in contact with the liquid or gel which is contained in each cell, with a portion of the barrier which is arranged in the cell. between the two electrodes.
- the liquid or gel contained in the cell then contains both the first and second electroactive substances.
- Each cell is then independent of the others, with respect to the operation of the system during an electrically controlled switching. In this case, it can be sealed to isolate it from other cells, and thus prevent chemical alteration from spreading between adjacent cells.
- only one of the two electrodes is in contact with the liquid or gel that is contained in each cell.
- a first of these cells that is powered by one of the electrodes is then adjacent with a second of these cells that is powered by the other electrode.
- the system then comprises an ion bridge between the two cells, which ensures a balance of electrical charge for each cell individually.
- the inner wall separating the two adjacent cells each fed by a separate electrode then forms a portion of the barrier between the two electrodes provided by the invention. In this case, this barrier portion extends from one outer wall of the system to the other, and has a height that is still greater than 3 microns, preferably greater than 5 microns.
- the two electrodes have edges which are respectively located in the two adjacent cells, and which are still at a distance of less than 150 ⁇ m, preferably less than 100 ⁇ m, more preferably at a separation distance of between 5 and 40 ⁇ m. .mu.m.
- the first and second electroactive substances may each have an optical effect which is variable between the oxidized form and the reduced form of these substances.
- the first and second electroactive substances may have respective colors in at least one of the oxidized or reduced forms, in a way that is complementary to these forms, so that these colors appear simultaneously when a system operation.
- the two electrodes can be advantageously alternated with a step such that complementary colors can not be distinguished at the observation distance of the system. An average color is then perceived uniformly.
- the system may further comprise a strip of an insulating and transparent material which is disposed between the two electrodes.
- This strip and the electrodes may have respective optical thicknesses that are adapted to produce respective phase delays that are equal for a visible light wave propagating perpendicularly to the electronic transfer surfaces of the electrodes. In this way, diffusion or diffraction light that could possibly produce the edges of the electrodes or the separation interval between them is reduced or suppressed. The transparency of the system is thus increased.
- the system may also include an amount of an absorbent substance for at least a portion of the visible light, which is disposed between the two electrodes.
- This amount of absorbent substance is preferably carried by the same external wall as the electrodes, and on the same side as the latter.
- the shape of the separation gap between the electrodes may be irregular so as to average in space the scattering or diffraction that comes from the ordered arrangement of the electrodes.
- irregular shape is meant a shape that is not straight or has a repeating pattern of less than four rectilinear segments.
- the shape of the barrier may be similar to that of the gap.
- the shape of the walls may be advantageously irregular so as to further reduce the diffusion or diffraction caused by the walls.
- a transparent electroactive system according to the invention can be implemented for a wide variety of applications.
- it can form a glazing, for example a building facade glazing, a glass of ophthalmic spectacles, a helmet visor or a mask glass.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross sections of systems according to the invention, respectively corresponding to two distinct configurations;
- FIGS. 3a and 3b are plan views of systems according to the invention, showing possible electrode contours for a system according to FIG. 1;
- FIGS. 4a and 4b are plan views of systems according to the invention, showing possible electrode contours for a system according to FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5a and 5b are enlarged views respectively corresponding to Figures 1 and 2, which show an alternative embodiment of an improvement of the invention.
- the dimensions of the elements shown do not correspond to actual dimensions or real size ratios.
- identical references which are indicated in different figures designate identical elements or which have identical functions.
- the embodiments of the invention which are described in detail belong to the ophthalmic field. But it is understood that this field of application is taken only by way of example, and that the invention can be implemented in a similar way for different fields of application.
- two external walls 10 and 11 define between them a closed volume 12.
- the walls 10 and 11 are parallel to each other, flat or curved, and have any surface extension.
- the wall 10 may be a transparent organic film, a spectacle lens, or a spectacle lens blank, and the wall 11 may be a transparent organic closure film.
- the wall 10 may be made of any organic or inorganic transparent material which is commonly used in the ophthalmic field.
- the wall 11 may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), cellulose triacetate (TAC) or polycarbonate (PC), for example.
- the wall 1 1 may be disposed on a concave face of the spectacle lens which constitutes the wall 10.
- the thickness of the wall 1 1 may be adapted to the method which is used for its assembly with the glass 10. For example it may be between 50 and 200 ⁇ m.
- the walls 10 and 11 may each be complex structures.
- they may each comprise a base wall element and one or more coatings which are arranged on it to give it additional properties.
- these coatings may have an anti-reflective function, an anti-fouling function, a mechanical protection function, a protection function against ultraviolet radiation, a gas barrier function, etc.
- the stack may be transferred to an organic or inorganic substrate.
- the wall 10 or alternatively the wall 11 may be placed in contact with the substrate.
- the wall 10 carries two separate electrodes 2 and 3 on its face which is oriented towards the volume 12. These electrodes may be made of any electrically conductive material, known to those skilled in the art. For example, they can be in ITO.
- the electrodes 2 and 3 may have respective patterns which are complementary to the surface extension of the wall 10 so as to completely cover it outside a separation gap IS between these electrodes.
- the gap IS provides electrical insulation of the two electrodes with respect to each other on the wall 10.
- the electrodes 2 and 3 may have respective comb patterns which are nested within each other. other.
- FIGS. 3a / 4a and 3b / 4b respectively show two possible patterns for electrodes 2 and 3.
- references 2a and 3a designate terminals for respectively connecting electrodes 2 and 3 to output terminals of a power supply. electric (not shown) which is intended to control the system and to supply power.
- the pattern of Figures 3a / 4a is rectilinear.
- Each electrode 2, 3 comprises a base branch, respectively 2b and 3b, and respective extensions 2c and 3c which are connected to the corresponding base branches.
- the extensions 2c and 3c are alternated in a direction parallel to the base branches 2b and 3b, to form a complete cover of the wall 10 outside the separation interval IS.
- the pattern of Figures 3b / 4b is irregular.
- the electrodes 2 and 3 have irregular contours, parallel to the outer walls 10 and 11. Such irregular contours prevent a significant amount of light from being diffracted by the contours of the electrodes in particular directions.
- the contours of the electrodes 2 and 3 may have two-dimensional irregularities, parallel to the walls 10 and 11. Two-dimensional irregularities are understood to mean irregularities that concern all the directions parallel to the walls 10 and 11. Barrier 1 is aligned with the irregular pattern of the electrodes.
- the shape of the walls 4 may advantageously be irregularly structured so as to further reduce the diffusion or diffraction which is caused by the walls. Flickers can thus be reduced or eliminated for all the deviations that could undergo a light that passes through the system.
- the width d of the separation interval IS between the electrodes 2 and 3 may be constant, between 1 and 40 ⁇ m. For example, it may be substantially equal to 20 microns.
- the width e of the electrode extensions 2c and 3c may be between 10 and 5000 ⁇ m. For example, it can be on average of the order of 50 to 500 microns.
- the electrodes 2 and 3 may have the same thickness e 2 , perpendicular to the wall 10, for example 0.3 microns.
- a strip 7 of a transparent material may be disposed in the gap IS between the two electrodes 2 and 3, with a thickness perpendicular to the wall 10 which is tuned relative to that of the electrodes.
- the electrodes 2 and 3 with the strip 7 can produce a phase retardation which is uniform on the wall 10 for light rays which pass through the system 10 at one or the other of the electrodes or at the of the IS interval.
- D represents a direction of light rays passing through the system of the invention between two opposite sides of it. D may be perpendicular or not perpendicular to the walls 10 and 1 1.
- the strip 7 makes it possible to reduce an intensity of a light that would be diffused or diffracted by the edges of the electrodes 2 and 3.
- the system may also include an amount of substance that is absorbent for at least a portion of the visible light, and that is disposed in the IS gap between the electrodes 2 and 3.
- a substance also reduces the light that would be susceptible to be diffused by the edges of the electrodes 2 and 3.
- an absorbent substance may be black.
- the absorbent substance may be one or more dye (s) which diffuses (s) preferentially into the wall 10 between the electrodes 2 and 3.
- Such an amount of absorbent substance is referenced 8 in Figures 5a and 5b.
- Electroactive substances are contained in the closed volume 12 to form a reversible electrochemical system with the electrodes 2 and 3.
- these substances must belong to at least two distinct electrochemical couples, which are associated with different oxidation potentials.
- first substances belong to a first electrochemical pair, and each has an oxidized form a reduced form.
- Each of these first substances is converted from its reduced form into its oxidized form when it comes into contact with that of the electrodes 2 and 3 which is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply. It undergoes the reverse conversion when it comes into contact, in its initial oxidized form, with the electrode which is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply.
- each of these conversions causes a variation in light transmission or color of the system at the corresponding electrode.
- second substances belong to a second electrochemical pair, each of which also has an oxidized form and a reduced form.
- the operation of this second pair is identical to that of the first.
- the voltage applied between the electrodes 2 and 3 is greater than the difference between the oxidation potentials of the two couples, the oxidized substances of the pair which has the lowest oxidation potential react to that of the electrodes 2 or 2. 3 which is connected, at a given moment, to the negative terminal of the power supply.
- the reduced substances of the other pair react to the other electrode.
- the system thus produces the optical switching which is controlled by the voltage delivered by the power supply.
- the first and second electroactive substances may be chosen from the electrochemical couples known to those skilled in the art.
- it may be electrochromic substances such as viologenes, carbazoles, phenylenediamine-based compounds, quinone-based compounds, naphthopyran-based compounds, and the like. They may be dispersed in a liquid or a gel which fills the volume 12, and which ensures that these substances are mobile to react electrochemically on one or other of the electrodes 2 and 3.
- This dispersion medium may be a solvent common to the oxidized and reduced forms of the two electrochemical couples.
- the dispersion medium can be based on carbonate. of propylene.
- the substances of the two electrochemical couples can each have an optical effect which is variable between their respective forms oxidized and reduced.
- the optical switching of the system is the combination of the respective optical effect variations of the two electrochemical couples, in the direction of oxidation for one of the couples and in the direction of reduction for the other.
- the substances of one of the pairs may be stained for one of their oxidized or reduced forms, and the substances of the other pair may be stained for the other oxidized or reduced form. In this case, these colors appear or disappear simultaneously, depending on the electrical control that is applied to the system by the electrodes.
- the apparent color of the system may appear uniform when the electrodes are nested one inside the other with a step of alternation between two electrodes which is sufficiently fine.
- the alternating pitch of the electrodes can be selected according to the distance between an observer and the system.
- the apparent color is the mixture of the actual colors of each colored substance.
- the substances of the two couples that appear and disappear simultaneously to the respective electrodes may have colors that are substantially identical.
- the first or second electroactive substances, belonging to one of the pairs may have an optical effect that is variable between their oxidized form and their reduced form, while the other substances, which belong to the other pair, may have no variable optical effect between their oxidized form and their reduced form.
- that of the electrodes 2 or 3 which is dedicated to transfer electrons to substances which do not have a variable optical effect has an electronic transfer surface smaller than the electronic transfer surface of the other electrode, this the last being then dedicated to exchange electrons substances with variable optical effect.
- the surface of the wall 10 can be used to obtain a switching optical contrast which is important, despite the absence of a variable optical effect for one of the two pairs.
- the barrier which is arranged between the electrodes according to the invention is referenced 1 in the figures. It extends in the volume 12 between the electrodes 2 and 3, from the face of the wall 10 which is internal to the system or from the band 7 when it is present.
- the height and the thickness of the barrier 1 are respectively denoted h and f.
- the thickness f may be greater than or equal to 0.1 ⁇ m, for example between 0.5 and 8 ⁇ m.
- the respective electronic transfer surfaces of the electrodes 2 and 3 are parallel to the wall 10. They are respectively denoted S2 and S3 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Most often, they are located at the same level above the face of the wall 10 which carries the two electrodes, corresponding to the thickness e 2 of the electrodes. In this case, the height h of the barrier 1 is identified from the common level of the electronic transfer surfaces of the two electrodes 2 and 3. In the general case, especially if the electronic transfer surfaces are not at the same common level above the wall 10, the height h is measured from an average of the respective levels of the electronic transfer surfaces of the electrodes.
- the barrier 1 extends the path of the electroactive substances within the liquid or gel, between the electrodes 2 and 3 and reduces their electromigration. Thanks to this extension, the substances of each couple that reacted to one or the other of the two electrodes would manage to meet after a diffusion or migration time which is greatly increased. In practice, as a function of the height h of the barrier 1, this duration can be much greater than that which separates successive commands from two inverse commutations of the system. Thus, the mutual neutralization of the substances of the two couples which have been reduced or oxidized to the respective electrodes is inhibited. The system therefore has no band between the two electrodes, whose color does not correspond to the electrically controlled state. In addition, power consumption of the system is also reduced.
- the volume 12 is divided into cells 5, by an internal wall network 4.
- the walls 4 extend inside the volume 12, to from the outer wall 10 or from the components that may be worn by the this.
- the walls 4 can be carried by one or other of the electrodes 2 and 3, or by the band 7 when it is present in the system.
- the inner walls 4 may each have a height of 1 to 50 microns, and preferably 5 to 25 microns, perpendicular to the wall 10, and a thickness of the order of 0.5 microns.
- the network of the walls 4 forms a partition of the volume 12, so that the liquid or gel which contains the electroactive substances is distributed and enclosed in the cells 5.
- An appropriate quantity of the liquid or gel, with a controlled composition, is then introduced either uniformly in all the cells 5 by rolling for example, either individually in each cell 5, for example using a head of material projection, ink jet head type.
- the cells 5 are then closed by the outer wall 1 1, on the opposite side to the wall 10.
- a layer 13 of an adherent material may be disposed between the outer wall January 1 and the vertices of the inner walls 4. L
- the thickness of the layer 13 is chosen so as to ensure good adhesion.
- the layer 13 may have a thickness of 8 to 15 microns, for example, and be made of polystyrene (PS), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), etc.
- PS polystyrene
- PAN polyacrylonitrile
- PVdF polyvinylidene fluoride
- PMMA polymethyl methacrylate
- PU polyurethane
- the barrier 1, as well as the internal walls 4, may be based on at least one organic, inorganic or hybrid material.
- This material may be deposited on the outer wall 10 by embossing, screen printing or ink jet, by spin coating or spray ("spray" in English), followed by an etching step. It may be, for example, silica (SiO 2 ) or alumina
- the barrier 1 and the inner walls 4 may be made from a lithographic resin.
- the system is then manufactured by performing the following steps on the outer wall 10, in chronological order: formation of the electrodes 2 and 3, possible formation of the strips 7 or 8, formation of the barrier 1 and the internal walls 4, and filling cells 5. Then the walls 10 and 1 1 are assembled with each other to close the entire system.
- the barrier 1 can be distinct from the internal walls 4, or confused with some walls 4.
- the implementation of the barrier 1 according to the invention is independent of the use of internal walls 4 to divide the volume 12 in juxtaposed cells.
- each cell 5 contains both a portion of the electrode 2 and a portion of the electrode 3, as well as a portion of the barrier 1 between the two electrode portions.
- the liquid that is contained in each cell contains both substances of each of the two electrochemical couples.
- each cell 5 is independent of the others, and all the cells can operate in parallel in response to the same voltage that is applied between the two electrodes.
- the cells 5 can then each be sealed, so that no passage of material occurs between adjacent cells.
- the layer 13 may consist of a pressure-sensitive material, commonly referred to as PSA for "Pressure Sensitive Adhesive", which adheres to both the outer wall 11 and to the tops of the inner walls 4.
- PSA Pressure Sensitive Adhesive
- the barrier 1 is merged with some of the inner walls 4, according to Figures 2, 4a, 4b and 5b.
- the walls 4 which are concerned then constitute portions of the barrier 1.
- the height h of the barrier 1 is that of the walls 4.
- each cell 5 contains only one electrode portion, which belongs either to the electrode 2 or to the electrode 3.
- each cell that contains a portion of one of the electrodes is adjacent to at least one other cell that contains a portion of the other electrode.
- each cell 5 may contain substances of only one of the two electrochemical pairs, or both, in particular as a function of the respective electrical polarities that can be applied to the two electrodes 2 and 3.
- Two adjacent cells that are electrically powered one by the electrode 2 and the other electrode 3 are then electrically connected to each other by an ion bridge 6.
- the electrical operation and the composition of such an ion bridge are assumed to be known to those skilled in the art.
- the ion bridge 6 may be either permeable to all electroactive species and ionic species of the electrolyte, or impervious to the first and second electroactive substances.
- the electroactive substances can each be permanently contained in one of the adjacent cells. In this way, each cell may not contain substances belonging to the electrochemical couple which is not activated by the electrode which supplies it. An economy of electroactive substances results.
- the ionic bridge 6 may consist of a layer of a gel or a membrane which is arranged on the tops of the internal walls 4, on the side opposite the electrodes 2, 3.
- a layer which forms the ionic bridge 6 has a thickness that depends in particular on the height of the inner walls 4. This thickness may be of the order of 10 microns, for example, perpendicular to the walls 10 and 1 1.
- this gel may also constitute the layer 13 which ensures the cohesion of the system by retaining the walls 10 and 11 to one another.
- the inner wall 4 which separates two cells 5 fed by the electrode 2 and the other by the electrode 3, may constitute the ion bridge.
- this wall may be porous and permeable to ions, so as to allow a transfer thereof between the two cells.
- the sealing at the top of the walls 4 can be hermetic, so that it does not itself allow passage to any electroactive substance or any ionic species of the electrolyte.
- the two possibilities of the ion bridge 6 which is formed at the top of the walls 4 and the ion bridge which is constituted by the wall 4 can be used together in the same system.
- the second configuration of the system can be particularly advantageous when at least three electrochemical couples which have complementary colors, for oxidized or reduced forms which are produced simultaneously during switching of the system, are associated with a group of adjacent cells. Indeed, this group of cells appears macroscopically as an element of the surface of the system that switches between a high light transmission state and a low light transmission state, these two states may have neutral colors.
- the dimensions of each group of cells can then be selected according to the distance between an observer and the electroactive system.
- the ionic bridge is impermeable to the first and second electroactive species, the recombination of the species after staining is completely blocked.
- the system thus formed is bistable.
- the discoloration is obtained by applying an electric potential or an opposite electric current.
- the invention can be implemented for the realization of electroactive systems other than electrochromic systems.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Nonlinear Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP09755982.7A EP2332004B1 (fr) | 2008-10-09 | 2009-10-07 | Systeme electroactif transparent |
CN200980146831.7A CN102216842B (zh) | 2008-10-09 | 2009-10-07 | 透明电活性系统 |
US13/122,019 US8379288B2 (en) | 2008-10-09 | 2009-10-07 | Transparent electroactive system |
JP2011530530A JP5584690B2 (ja) | 2008-10-09 | 2009-10-07 | 透明電気活性システム |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR0856837 | 2008-10-09 | ||
FR0856837A FR2937154B1 (fr) | 2008-10-09 | 2008-10-09 | Systeme electroactif transparent |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2010040954A1 true WO2010040954A1 (fr) | 2010-04-15 |
Family
ID=40612877
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/FR2009/051911 WO2010040954A1 (fr) | 2008-10-09 | 2009-10-07 | Systeme electroactif transparent |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US8379288B2 (fr) |
EP (1) | EP2332004B1 (fr) |
JP (1) | JP5584690B2 (fr) |
KR (1) | KR101641167B1 (fr) |
CN (1) | CN102216842B (fr) |
FR (1) | FR2937154B1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO2010040954A1 (fr) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP2652547A1 (fr) * | 2010-12-15 | 2013-10-23 | Switch Materials, Inc. | Filtre optique à facteur de transmission variable avec système d'électrodes sensiblement coplanaires |
EP3521868A1 (fr) | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-07 | Essilor International | Dispositif optique à changement de phase |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP2848667B1 (fr) | 2013-09-17 | 2019-04-10 | Essilor International | Viologènes à un et deux c'urs électrochromiques et articles optiques les contenant |
EP2848668B1 (fr) | 2013-09-17 | 2019-01-09 | Essilor International | Dérivés de viologène à deux conducteurs électrochromiques et articles optiques les contenant |
ES2661512T3 (es) | 2013-09-17 | 2018-04-02 | Essilor International | Composición electrocrómica |
ES2662377T3 (es) | 2013-09-17 | 2018-04-06 | Essilor International | Composición electrocrómica |
WO2016130666A1 (fr) | 2015-02-10 | 2016-08-18 | LAFORGE Optical, Inc. | Verre permettant d'afficher une image virtuelle |
EP3115433B1 (fr) | 2015-07-08 | 2018-10-03 | Essilor International | Composés électrochromiques et articles optiques les contenant |
CN108604034A (zh) * | 2016-02-15 | 2018-09-28 | 夏普株式会社 | 电致变色装置、以及具有电致变色装置的智能窗户 |
EP3345981B1 (fr) | 2017-01-09 | 2020-09-09 | Essilor International | Composés électrochromiques et articles optiques les contenant |
US11947233B2 (en) * | 2019-12-30 | 2024-04-02 | Sage Electrochromics, Inc. | Controlled randomization of electrochromic ablation patterns |
EP3923064A1 (fr) | 2020-06-12 | 2021-12-15 | Essilor International | Solution électrochromique |
EP3985046A1 (fr) | 2020-10-15 | 2022-04-20 | Essilor International | Formulation de gel réticulé |
EP4019607B1 (fr) | 2020-12-22 | 2024-05-15 | Essilor International | Composés électrochromiques et articles optiques les contenant |
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US20020005977A1 (en) * | 1999-06-30 | 2002-01-17 | Guarr Thomas F. | Electrode design for electrochromic devices |
WO2008000607A1 (fr) * | 2006-06-30 | 2008-01-03 | Essilor International (Compagnie Generale D'optique) | Élément optique comprenant des cellules à scellement par couche de matériau adhésif |
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JPS5626975A (en) * | 1979-08-14 | 1981-03-16 | Asahi Glass Co Ltd | Display element |
JPS5924879A (ja) * | 1982-07-31 | 1984-02-08 | ソニー株式会社 | エレクトロクロミツク表示装置 |
JPS59216181A (ja) * | 1983-05-25 | 1984-12-06 | 社団法人日本電子工業振興協会 | エレクトロクロミツク表示素子 |
JPS59219723A (ja) * | 1983-05-30 | 1984-12-11 | Nec Corp | エレクトロクロミツク表示装置 |
JP4200398B2 (ja) * | 1998-05-01 | 2008-12-24 | ソニー株式会社 | 光学装置及びその駆動方法 |
CN1599881A (zh) * | 2001-10-05 | 2005-03-23 | E-视觉有限公司 | 复合电活性透镜 |
US7158277B2 (en) | 2002-03-07 | 2007-01-02 | Acreo Ab | Electrochemical device |
ITTO20021110A1 (it) * | 2002-12-20 | 2004-06-21 | Fiat Ricerche | Struttura metallica percolata con proprieta' elettrocromiche e fotocromiche. |
JP2005084216A (ja) * | 2003-09-05 | 2005-03-31 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | 表示装置 |
JP4685507B2 (ja) | 2005-05-19 | 2011-05-18 | 株式会社日立製作所 | エレクトロクロミックデバイス |
JP2008233779A (ja) * | 2007-03-23 | 2008-10-02 | Bridgestone Corp | フレキシブル電子デバイス |
-
2008
- 2008-10-09 FR FR0856837A patent/FR2937154B1/fr active Active
-
2009
- 2009-10-07 KR KR1020117008163A patent/KR101641167B1/ko active IP Right Grant
- 2009-10-07 CN CN200980146831.7A patent/CN102216842B/zh active Active
- 2009-10-07 JP JP2011530530A patent/JP5584690B2/ja active Active
- 2009-10-07 WO PCT/FR2009/051911 patent/WO2010040954A1/fr active Application Filing
- 2009-10-07 EP EP09755982.7A patent/EP2332004B1/fr active Active
- 2009-10-07 US US13/122,019 patent/US8379288B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (2)
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US20020005977A1 (en) * | 1999-06-30 | 2002-01-17 | Guarr Thomas F. | Electrode design for electrochromic devices |
WO2008000607A1 (fr) * | 2006-06-30 | 2008-01-03 | Essilor International (Compagnie Generale D'optique) | Élément optique comprenant des cellules à scellement par couche de matériau adhésif |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2652547A1 (fr) * | 2010-12-15 | 2013-10-23 | Switch Materials, Inc. | Filtre optique à facteur de transmission variable avec système d'électrodes sensiblement coplanaires |
EP2652547A4 (fr) * | 2010-12-15 | 2014-09-10 | Switch Materials Inc | Filtre optique à facteur de transmission variable avec système d'électrodes sensiblement coplanaires |
US9568799B2 (en) | 2010-12-15 | 2017-02-14 | Switch Materials, Inc. | Variable transmittance optical filter with substantially co-planar electrode system |
US10254616B2 (en) | 2010-12-15 | 2019-04-09 | Switch Materials, Inc. | Variable transmittance optical filter with substantially co-planar electrode system |
EP3521868A1 (fr) | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-07 | Essilor International | Dispositif optique à changement de phase |
WO2019149694A1 (fr) | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-08 | Essilor International | Dispositif optique à changement de phase |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2012505426A (ja) | 2012-03-01 |
FR2937154B1 (fr) | 2010-11-19 |
FR2937154A1 (fr) | 2010-04-16 |
US8379288B2 (en) | 2013-02-19 |
EP2332004B1 (fr) | 2017-05-31 |
US20110211245A1 (en) | 2011-09-01 |
EP2332004A1 (fr) | 2011-06-15 |
KR101641167B1 (ko) | 2016-07-20 |
CN102216842B (zh) | 2014-05-14 |
JP5584690B2 (ja) | 2014-09-03 |
CN102216842A (zh) | 2011-10-12 |
KR20110081187A (ko) | 2011-07-13 |
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