Provided is an electrochromic display element including a first substrate, a first electrode over the first substrate, a first electrochromic layer over the first electrode, an electrolyte layer over the first electrochromic layer, a second electrode over the electrolyte layer, and a second substrate over the second electrode. The first electrochromic layer contains tin oxide having an average primary particle diameter of less than 30 nm and an electrochromic compound containing a functional group bindable to the tin oxide. The amount by mole of the electrochromic compound per area of the first electrochromic layer is from 2.0×10.sup.−8 mol/cm.sup.2 through 2.0×10.sup.−7 mol/cm.sup.2.

An electrochromic device and an electrochromic method therefor are disclosed. The electrochromic device comprises a first substrate, a first transparent conductive layer, a first electrochromic layer, an electrolyte layer, a second electrochromic layer, a second transparent conductive layer, and a second substrate which are sequentially stacked. Both the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer are made of a cathode electrochromic material or made of an anodic electrochromic material. The electrochromic method for the electrochromic device comprises: circularly applying a voltage having a direction opposite to and same as that of a first voltage to a pretreated electrochromic device. Because a structure in which two layers of electrochromic layers are made of the anodic electrochromic material or the cathode electrochromic material is used, and a specific electrochromic method is combined, the switching between different colors can be performed, and a selection range of the electrochromic materials can be expanded.

A method of forming an electrochromic (EC) device includes forming a solid-state first electrolyte layer, after forming the solid-state first electrolyte layer, laminating the first solid-state first electrolyte layer between a transparent first substrate and a transparent second substrate such that a transparent first electrode is disposed between the first substrate and a first side of the solid-state first electrolyte layer, and a transparent second electrode is disposed between the second substrate and a second side of the solid-state first electrolyte layer, and applying a sealant to seal the solid-state first electrolyte layer between the first and second substrates and to form the EC device.

Various embodiments herein relate to electrochromic devices and electrochromic device precursors, as well as methods and apparatus for fabricating such electrochromic devices and electrochromic device precursors. In certain embodiments, the electrochromic device or precursor may include one or more particular materials such as a particular electrochromic material and/or a particular counter electrode material. In various implementations, the electrochromic material includes tungsten titanium molybdenum oxide. In these or other implementation, the counter electrode material may include nickel tungsten oxide, nickel tungsten tantalum oxide, nickel tungsten niobium oxide, nickel tungsten tin oxide, or another material.

An electrochromic device including an electrode layer, an electrochromic layer and a conductive band having a closed ring shape. The electrochromic device having the above structure has excellent color-switching speeds and electrochromic uniformity.

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.

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 tantalum oxide (NiWTaO). This material is particularly beneficial in that it is very transparent in its clear state.

Various embodiments herein relate to electrochromic devices, methods of fabricating electrochromic devices, and apparatus for fabricating electrochromic devices. In a number of cases, the electrochromic device may be fabricated to include a particular counter electrode material. The counter electrode material may include a base anodically coloring material. The counter electrode material may further include one or more halogens. The counter electrode material may also include one or more additives.

Various embodiments herein relate to electrochromic devices, methods of fabricating electrochromic devices, and apparatus for fabricating electrochromic devices. In a number of cases, the electrochromic device may be fabricated to include a particular counter electrode material. The counter electrode material may include a base anodically coloring material. The counter electrode material may further include one or more halogens. The counter electrode material may also include one or more additives.

An electrochromic composition, an electrochromic layer and an electrochromic device are provided. The electrochromic composition includes 20-80 parts by weight of polyimide, 20-80 parts by weight of silicon oxide nanoparticle, 1-50 parts by weight of electrochromic material, and 850 to 1200 parts by weight of solvent. The polyimide is a reaction product of a dianhydride and a diamine. The dianhydride and the diamine are as defined in the specification.