A stack of layers can be formed adjacent to a substrate before any layer within the stack is patterned. In an embodiment, combinations of substrates and stacks can be made and stored for an extended period, such as more than a week or a month, or shipped to a remote location before further manufacturing occurs. By delaying irreversible patterning until the closer to the date final product will be shipped to a customer, the likelihood of having too much inventory of a particular size or having to scrap windows for a custom order that was cancelled after manufacturing started can be substantially reduced. Further, particles between layers of the stack can be avoided. The process flows described are flexible, and many of the patterning operations in forming holes, openings, or the high resistance region can be performed in many different orders.

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.

A color-changeable alloy wheel of a vehicle has an electrochromic paint deposited on the alloy wheel, so that a color of the alloy wheel changes according to a rotational speed thereof. The color-changeable alloy wheel includes: the electrochromic paint deposited on an outer side surface of the alloy wheel, and a current supplied from a battery of the vehicle to the alloy wheel when the rotational speed of the alloy wheel is higher than a predetermined speed, in order to change the color of the alloy wheel.

A window assembly comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones formed on a single transparent substrate in which at least two electrochromic zones are independently controllable. In one exemplary embodiment, the window assembly comprises an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), and at least one transparent substrate comprises a lite. In another exemplary embodiment, the IGU comprises at least two lites in which at least one lite comprises a plurality of independently controllable dynamic zones.

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.

An electrochromic system and method for controlling photochromic darkening of an electrochromic device, the system including an EC device, a control unit, a voltage detector, and a power supply. The EC device includes a working electrode, a counter electrode, a solid-state polymer electrolyte disposed therebetween, and an ionically conductive and electrically insulating protective layer disposed between the electrolyte and the working electrode. The control unit is configured to control a sweep voltage applied between the working and counter electrodes, such that the sweep voltage is applied when an open circuit voltage (OCV) between the working and counter electrodes is less than a threshold voltage.

According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided an electrochromic device comprising a first portion comprising a first chromoactive material, a second portion comprising a second chromoactive material, an electrolyte; wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged on opposite sides of the electrolyte; wherein the first chromoactive material and the second chromoactive material are configured to change oxidation states in response to an applied current, wherein reaction products are generated in the second chromoactive material during the change in oxidation state, wherein the electrolyte is configured to constrain the volume expansion of the reaction products in a direction perpendicular to an interface between the second portion and the electrolyte.

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.

A synaptic electronic device includes a substrate including a one or more of a semiconductor and an insulator; a photosensitive layer disposed on a surface of the substrate; an electrochromic stack disposed on the photosensitive layer, the electrochromic stack including a first transparent electrode layer, a cathodic electrochromic layer, a solid electrolyte layer, an anodic electrochromic layer, and a second transparent electrode layer; and a pair of electrodes disposed on the photosensitive layer and on opposing sides of the electrochromic stack.

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.