Achieving precise, localized reversible control of optical material properties is challenging. Fortunately, electrochemical reactions and proton pumping in a solid-state system provide reversible electrical control of the solid-state system's optical properties. Applying a voltage to a thin solid electrolyte layer, such as GdO.sub.x, splits water into O.sub.2 and H.sup.+ (with charge conservation ensured by electron transfer at the electrodes) at the interface between the solid electrolyte and an electrode. The voltage drives the protons into the solid electrolyte, changing the solid electrolyte's refractive index. Reversing the polarity of the applied voltage drives the protons out of the solid electrolyte, reversing the refractive index change. This reversible electrical control can be used to implement interference color modulation, transmission modulation, and switchable plasmonics. Because the solid electrolyte can be less than 10 nanometers thick, this electrochemical control enables highly localized control of optical properties active plasmonic devices and reconfigurable metamaterials.

The present application relates to an electrochromic device. In one aspect, the electrochromic device includes an electrochromic element including a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrochromic layer, an ion storage layer and the second electrode. The electrochromic device also includes controller configured to change a state of the electrochromic element to change to at least one of a first state having a first transmittance, a second state having a second transmittance, a third state having a third transmittance, or a fourth state having a fourth transmittance by applying power to the electrochromic element. When a first voltage is applied to the electrochromic element in a first state, the electrochromic element becomes the second state, and when the first voltage is applied to the electrochromic element in a fourth state, the electrochromic element becomes the third state.

The present disclosure relates generally to multi-layer display devices including electrochromic material and methods of making the same. The display device may include one or more of a first layer comprising a first substrate depicting a display pattern; a second layer comprising an electrochromic polymer; a third layer comprising a solid state electrolyte; a fourth layer comprising a charge storage layer; a fifth layer comprising a second substrate, and/or other components. The one or more of the second layer, the third layer, and/or the fourth layer may be interposed between the first layer and the fifth layer. An application of a voltage between the first substrate and the second substrate may case a change in transmission and/or reflectance of light through the display device such that the display pattern on the first substrate may be displayed.

Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically-insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically-insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. In various embodiments, a counter electrode is fabricated to include a base anodically coloring material and one or more additives.

Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer, which are in direct contact with one another. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. In addition to the improved electrochromic devices and methods for fabrication, integrated deposition systems for forming such improved devices are also disclosed.

The present application discloses a method for preparing an electrochromic device. The method includes placing an edge protection material on a first and second substrates, placing a first and second interlayers respectively within the edge protection material on the first and second substrates, wherein the edge protection material surrounds edges of the first and second interlayers, and interposing an electrochromic film between the first and second interlayers. The edge protection material prevents chemicals in the first and second interlayers from entering into the electrochromic film.

Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically-insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically-insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. In various embodiments, a counter electrode is fabricated to include a base anodically coloring material and one or more additives.

Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer, which are in direct contact with one another. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. In addition to the improved electrochromic devices and methods for fabrication, integrated deposition systems for forming such improved devices are also disclosed.

In the electrochromic device according to an embodiment of the present application, when the first voltage is applied to the electrochromic device in a state that the electrochromic element has the first state, the electrochromic device becomes the second state, and when the first voltage is applied to the electrochromic element in a state that the electrochromic element has the fourth state, the electrochromic element becomes the third state.

Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer, which are in direct contact with one another. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. In addition to the improved electrochromic devices and methods for fabrication, integrated deposition systems for forming such improved devices are also disclosed.