Electrochromic devices and compositions including anodic components as cathodic component counter-anions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrochromic devices face issues with mass transport imbalance between cathodic and anodic components, leading to reduced durability and increased manufacturing complexity due to differences in solubility and charge association, which can result in over-oxidation or over-reduction at electrodes.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an electrochromic device design where each counter-anion of the cathodic component is covalently bonded to an anodic component, maintaining a balanced mass transport through a polymer matrix, thereby stabilizing the electrochromic layer and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cathodic component has cationic charge with counter-anions, then the electrochromic device can achieve charge balance and electrochemical stability, but the mass transport becomes imbalanced and the counter-anions interfere with oxidation reactions at the anode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cathodic component (with cationic charge) and anodic component (with anionic charge) into a single integrated electrochromic material system. This combining ensures that both components are transported together through the electrochromic layer, achieving balanced mass transport while eliminating the harmful interference effect of free counter-anions on anode oxidation reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cationic polymer matrix as an intermediary that facilitates the coordinated transport of both cathodic and anodic components. This intermediary structure ensures balanced mass transport by providing a unified transport pathway, thereby resolving the mass transport imbalance issue while maintaining electrochemical stability.
2Productivity
If a higher concentration of the slower moving component is required to equalize diffusion flux, then the current can be maintained, but the manufacturing complexity increases and formulation errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the cathodic and anodic components into a single integrated material with balanced charge (cationic and anionic species together), the patent ensures that both components are transported at equal rates through the electrochromic layer. This eliminates the need for adjusted concentrations to equalize diffusion flux, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing formulation errors while maintaining current.
3Device complexity
If the anodic component has no charge associated therewith, then the mass transport is simplified, but the mass transport balance relative to the cathodic component deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the charged cathodic component with a charged anodic component (having anionic charge) into a unified electrochromic material system. This merging ensures that both components carry charge and are transported together at balanced rates, achieving mass transport balance while maintaining electrochemical functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the charge parameter of the anodic component from neutral to anionic (charged), enabling balanced mass transport with the cationic cathodic component. This parameter change ensures that both components experience similar transport conditions through the electrochromic layer, achieving mass transport balance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach achieves improved mass transport balance, reducing manufacturing complexity and enhancing the durability and efficiency of electrochromic devices by minimizing over-oxidation/reduction, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
Electrochromism involves a reversible change in a material's visible color and/or transmittance of visible light with the application of an electrical potential
Implementation Method 2
a material that generates color while undergoing reduction is referred to as a cathodically-coloring electrochromic material; and a material that generates color while undergoing oxidation is referred to as an anodically-coloring electrochromic material
Implementation Method 3
a material that generates color while undergoing reduction is referred to as a cathodically-coloring electrochromic material
Implementation Method 4
The kinetics of such electrochromic devices is typically governed primarily by mass transport of cathodic components and anodic components across and through the electrochromic layer
Implementation Method 5
For purposes of charge conversion, the electrical currents of both electrodes are necessarily equal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
AI summary
The present invention relates to electrochromic devices and compositions, in which the cathodic component has cationic charge and includes counter-anions, where each counter-anion of the cathodic component is an anodic component having an anion covalently bonded thereto.