Electrochromic materials and optical systems employing the same

Abstract

Devices and methods related generally to electrochromic materials and their use. In some embodiments, the electrochromic materials are for use on an optical substrate, such as a lens, a semi-finished lens blank, and the like. Some embodiments include an electrochromic stack including nanostructured materials. Some embodiments include an electrochromic stack including nanostructured electrochromic materials. Some embodiments include one or more ion-conducting layers. Methods of making electrochromic stacks having nanostructured materials and/or ion-conducting layers are also discussed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochromic optical system comprising:
 an optical substrate; and   an electrochromic stack disposed on the optical substrate, wherein the electrochromic stack comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers comprises a nanostructured material.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic stack comprises at least five layers. 
     
     
         3 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the at least five layers has a thickness of 5 to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic stack comprises at least four layers. 
     
     
         5 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the at least four layers has a thickness of 5 to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic stack comprises at least three layers. 
     
     
         7 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the at least three layers has a thickness of 5 to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the layers of the plurality of layers comprise a nanostructured material. 
     
     
         9 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructured material comprises at least one of: nanopores, nanospheres, nanograins, nanorods, nanoridges, nanoplatelets, and nanoparticles. 
     
     
         10 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructured material comprises an electrochromic material. 
     
     
         11 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrochromic material is an electrochromic oxide selected from the group consisting of: tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, iridium oxide, molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, cobalt oxide, rhodium oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructured material is formed of an electrochromic material. 
     
     
         13 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 12 , wherein the electrochromic material is an electrochromic oxide selected from the group consisting of: tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, iridium oxide, molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, cobalt oxide, rhodium oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrolyte. 
     
     
         15 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one ion-conducting layer disposed between at least one electrolyte and at least one layer comprising a nanostructured material. 
     
     
         16 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one ion-conducting layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: lithium oxide, lithium niobate, Li-doped tungsten oxide, Li-doped nickel oxide, organic silica, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one ion-conducting layer is in contact with at least one layer comprising a nanostructured material. 
     
     
         18 . The electrochromic optical system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one ion-conducting layer in contact with at least one layer comprising a nanostructured material penetrates into the nanostructured material. 
     
     
         19 . An electrochromic optical system comprising:
 a first substrate;   a second substrate;   an electrochromic stack disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the electrochromic stack comprising:
 a first nanostructured layer comprising a first nanostructured material; 
 a second nanostructured layer comprising a second nanostructured material; and 
 at least one electrolyte. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method of making an electrochromic optical system, the method comprising:
 depositing a first nanostructured layer over a first substrate, the first nanostructured layer comprising a first nanostructured material;   depositing a second nanostructured layer over a second substrate, the second nanostructured layer comprising a second nanostructured material;   depositing a first ion-conducting layer over the first nanostructured layer;   depositing a second ion-conducting layer over the second nanostructured layer;   depositing an electrolyte over at least one of: the first ion-conducting layer and the second ion-conducting layer; and   assembling the first substrate and the second substrate, thereby forming the electrochromic optical system.