Electrochromic device containing color-tunable nanostructures

Abstract

An electrochromic device and method, the device including: a first transparent conductor layer; a working electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor layer and including nanostructures; a counter electrode; a solid state electrolyte layer disposed between the counter electrode and the working electrode; and a second transparent conductor layer disposed on the counter electrode. The nanostructures may include transition metal oxide nanoparticles and/or nanocrystals configured to tune the color of the device by selectively modulating the transmittance of near-infrared (NIR) and visible radiation as a function of an applied voltage to the device.

1 . An electrochromic device, comprising:
 a first transparent conductor layer;   a working electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor layer and comprising tungsten oxide nanoparticles;   a counter electrode;   an electrolyte layer disposed between the counter electrode and the working electrode; and   a second transparent conductor layer disposed on the counter electrode,   wherein:
 the electrochromic device has a transmitted haze of less than about 1.0%; 
 in a bright mode the electrochromic device transmits at least 50% of received visible light; and 
 in a dark mode the electrochromic device transmits 5% or less of received visible light. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electrochromic device of  claim 1 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise (WO 3-x ) nanoparticles, where 0≤x≤0.33. 
     
     
         3 . The electrochromic device of  claim 2 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise (WO 3-x ) nanoparticles, where 0≤x≤0.17. 
     
     
         4 . The electrochromic device of  claim 3 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise WO 3  nanoparticles. 
     
     
         5 . The electrochromic device of  claim 1 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles have an average particle size of from about 4 nm to about 6 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The electrochromic device of  claim 1 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles contain a lithium dopant. 
     
     
         7 . The electrochromic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer configured to reduce degradation of the working electrode due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. 
     
     
         8 . The electrochromic device of  claim 1 , wherein the counter electrode comprises at least one selected from: CeO 2 ; CeVO 2 ; TiO 2 ; indium tin oxide; indium oxide; nickel oxide; tin oxide; manganese or antimony doped tin oxide; aluminum doped zinc oxide; zinc oxide; gallium zinc oxide; indium gallium zinc oxide; molybdenum doped indium oxide; Fe 2 O 3 ; and V 2 O 5 . 
     
     
         9 . The electrochromic device of  claim 8 , wherein the counter electrode comprises CeO 2  and indium oxide.