A multi-layer device comprising a first substrate and a first electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, the first electrically conductive layer having a sheet resistance to the flow of electrical current through the first electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position.

The present invention relates to new phosphaviologen derivatives, methods of making phosphaviologen derivatives, and uses thereof, including uses in electrochromic devices and organic battery materials. The phosphaviologen derivatives described herein have strong electron-accepting properties and can be used to provide phosphaviologen derivative-containing electronic materials. In certain embodiments, the phosphaviologen derivatives include dimeric phosphaviologens.

The present disclosure includes an effective optical region within a transmittance variable region, and sets the transmittance variable region and the effective optical region so that a shortest distances from a periphery of the transmittance variable region to a periphery of the effective optical region, d1 and d2, are 7.5% or more and 25% or less of a length of the transmittance variable region on a straight line including the shortest distances, L1, in a vertical direction.

An energy storage device includes a cathodic material in an activated state; and an anodic material in an activated state; wherein: the cathodic material is a viologen covalently attached to, or confined within, a first polymer matrix, the first polymer matrix is configured to prevent or minimize substantial diffusion of the cathodic material in the activated state; and the anodic material is a phenazine, a phenothiazine, a triphenodithiazine, a carbazole, a indolocarbazole, a biscarbazole, or a ferrocene covalently attached to, or confined within, a second polymer matrix, the second polymer matrix is configured to prevent or minimize substantial diffusion of the anodic material in the activated state.

A transparent photovoltaic (TPV) integrated directly into the structure of an electrochromic (EC) device is beneficial in that it can eliminate at least one substrate and provide more uniform coloring. Integration of a transparent photovoltaic with an electrochromic device may also reduce or eliminate the need for an electrical bus on a substrate. In some embodiments, positioning the TPV internally with the EC cell may eliminate the need for additional substrate layers or a conductive layer on one side of the TPV cell. Integrating a PV cell into the EC device can additionally reduce the need for external wiring and an external power supply. Alternatively, the TPV can assist in charging a battery where the battery can be used to power the EC device when there is no sunlight available.

The embodiments herein relate to electrochromic stacks, electrochromic devices, and methods and apparatus for making such stacks and devices. In various embodiments, an anodically coloring layer in an electrochromic stack or device is fabricated to include nickel-tungsten-niobium-oxide (NiWNbO). This material is particularly beneficial in that it is very transparent in its clear state.

Protic-soluble electrochromic materials, ion-paired electrochromic materials including protic-soluble electrochromic materials, as well as electrochromic media and electrochromic devices incorporating such materials, are provided. The use of protic solvent mixtures, especially mixtures incorporating water, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate materials. For example, plastics that may be soluble in organic aprotic solvent systems may be used in water-based devices.

An electro-optic element includes a first substantially transparent polymer substrate defining first and second surfaces. The second surface includes a first electrically conductive layer. A first polymer multi-layer film is disposed between the first substrate and the first conductive layer. The first polymer multi-layer film includes a first polymer layer, an inorganic layer, and a second polymer layer. A second substantially transparent substrate defines a third surface and a fourth surface. The third surface includes a second electrically conductive layer. An electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity defined between the first and second substrates and includes a cathodic material, an anodic material, and at least one solvent.

Provided is an electrochromic element, including: a pair of electrodes; and an electrochromic layer disposed between the pair of electrodes and containing a plurality of kinds of organic electrochromic compounds, in which: at least one kind of the plurality of kinds of organic electrochromic compounds includes an organic electrochromic compound having an absorption peak in a wavelength region of 700 nm or more during coloring thereof; and when an optical density in a decolored state thereof is defined as 0, a fluctuation ratio of a transmittance in a wavelength region of from 650 nm or more to 700 nm or less with respect to a central transmittance is within 15% at an optical density of 0.3.

An electrochromic apparatus comprises an electrochromic device and a drive unit operating for normal drive and heating drive of the electrochromic device. The electrochromic device comprises a pair of electrodes and an electrochromic layer including at least an electrochromic material and a solvent. Each of the paired electrodes has at least a pair of power supply sections on a surface thereof. The pair of power supply sections include a first power supply section and a second power supply section arranged oppositely relative to the first power supply section on the surface. The drive unit operates for the heating drive such that the electrochromic layer is heated by applying an alternating voltage between the pair of power supply sections of each of the paired electrodes so as to put any oppositely disposed positions of the paired electrodes in phase with each other.