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.

Composite assemblies are described that can be switched from a transparent state to a non transparent state, and in some examples even switched between different colors/reflectivities in the non transparent state. Switching between these states can be initiated by application of an electrical current to Ag carbon nanotube yarns in contact with an electrochromic electrolyte. The carbon nanotube yarns increase the efficiency with which electrons are provided to an electrolyte.

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.

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 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 flash lamp, a flash lamp control method and a mobile device are described. The flash lamp includes a light-emitting device and an electrochromic module disposed on the light-emitting device. A color of the electrochromic module is different under different operating voltages, such that a color temperature of light is different, the light being emitted by the light-emitting device and passing through the electrochromic module.

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.

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.