To provide an electrochromic compound represented by the following general formula (1) where X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, x is an integer selected from 0 through 3, y and z are each independently an integer selected from 0 through 4, and at least one of L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 is a monovalent functional group bonded to a nitrogen atom of a pyridinium ring directly, or via a divalent substituent. ##STR00001##

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel electrochromic device (ECD). Disclosed is an electrochromic device (ECD) comprising two metal-complex-based electrochromic thin films individually acting as a working electrode and a counter electrode; (i) one of the two metal-complex-based electrochromic thin films being a film of a cathodically coloring metallo-supramolecular polymer comprising at least one organic ligand having a plurality of metal coordination positions and a metal ion of at least one transition metal and/or lanthanoid metal with the at least one organic ligand and the metal ion being arranged alternately, and the other of the two metal-complex-based electrochromic thin films being a film of an anodically coloring metal hexacyanoferrate (MHCF) represented by the formula: M(II).sub.3[Fe(III)CN.sub.6].sub.2 (where M=Fe, Ni or Zn), and (ii) the electrochromic device having a first conducting substrate; the film of the cathodically coloring metallo-supramolecular polymer; an electrolyte; the film of the anodically coloring metal hexacyanoferrate (MHCF); and a second conducting substrate being arranged in this order.

The invention belongs to the technical field of electrochromic devices, particularly relates to a novel electrochromic film material, and further discloses an electrochromic film device prepared by the novel electrochromic film material. According to the electrochromic film device provided by the invention, the electrochromic film material is prepared by taking a high adhesive-property composition and a redox-type liquid-state electrochromic composition as raw materials for the first time, and the redox-type liquid-state electrochromic composition is dispersed and cured between conductive substrates by a curing reaction of the high adhesive-property composition. After a test, electrochromic response time of the electrochromic film device prepared by the invention is between 7-11 seconds, number of cycles is between 14-160,000 times, and color difference b value is between 20 and +30. It has a high color changing speed, long service life and stable performance, with a maximum cycle life reaching 160,000 times, and has good application performance.

An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic medium including a cathodic component, an anodic component, a hydroquinone, and a solvent.

A method for preparing an electrochromic device. In the method the device is prepared by inserting monovalent cations into a reducing electrochromic layer in advance, for instance, through a dry process. In particular, the method involves inserting monovalent cations into an electrochromic layer which includes a reducing electrochromic material. Then, subsequently and sequentially, placing an electrolyte layer and an ion storage layer on the electrochromic layer. In this way, it is possible to improve driving durability of the electrochromic device.

A dimming device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a light emitting stacked body that includes a first electrode, a dimming layer, and a second electrode that are stacked; the dimming layer has a stacked structure of a reduction coloring layer, an electrolyte layer, and an oxidation coloring layer; when the number of atoms of a metal contributing to reduction reaction in a compound contained in the reduction coloring layer is denoted by [Re] and the number of atoms of a metal contributing to oxidation reaction in a compound contained in the oxidation coloring layer is denoted by [Ox], the value of [Re]/[Ox] is within a prescribed range; alternatively, when the thickness of the reduction coloring layer is denoted by T.sub.Re and the thickness of the oxidation coloring layer is denoted by T.sub.Ox, the value of T.sub.Re/T.sub.Ox is within a prescribed range.

The present invention provides an electrochromic (EC) element that comprises a first electrode, an electrochromic layer located on the first electrode and made of an electrochromic material, an electrolyte layer located on the electrochromic layer, and a second electrode located on the electrolyte layer, and satisfies at least one of the following conditions (1) and (2): (1) the first electrode and/or the second electrode includes a plurality of regions each having a different resistance value from an external power source; (2) the electrolyte layer includes a plurality of regions each comprising a different electrolyte material. In the condition (1), each of the plurality of regions may be an electrode formed as a block shape and/or a linear shape. In the condition (1), the plurality of regions may be arrayed so that each resistance value in the plurality of regions increases sequentially from the region at one end toward the region at the other end.

A view angle control device includes light transmission layers that are arranged at intervals and through which light passes, electrochromic layers having light absorption spectrum characteristics according to voltages applied thereto, the electrochromic layers and the light transmission layers being arranged alternately, first electrodes disposed on one side with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with the respective electrochromic layers and contacted with the respective electrochromic layers, and a second electrode disposed on an opposite side from the first electrodes with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with and contacted with the electrochromic layers.

A mask plate, a method for manufacturing the mask plate and a usage of the mask plate in manufacturing a display substrate are provided. The mask plate includes a transparent substrate and at least two layers of electrochromic thin film patterns arranged on the transparent substrate. Each of the at least two layers of electrochromic thin film patterns is configured to be capable of being switched between a light-transmissible state and a non-light-transmissible state under an effect of an electric field. The mask plate is capable of forming at least two different mask patterns on the display substrate, which reduces the number of mask plates required for manufacturing the display substrate.

Disclosed herein are new electrochromic materials, including small molecule, oligomeric, and polymeric electrochromic materials, and compositions comprising the electrochromic materials and a salt. Further disclosed are electrochromic devices prepared from the electrochromic materials and electrochromic material compositions. Also disclosed are melt processable polymeric electrochromic materials, melt processable compositions comprising the melt processable polymeric electrochromic material, and a salt; and devices prepared therefrom.