Tungsten oxide nanostructure thin films for electrochromic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192332-A1
Application number	US-201615009465-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 28, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a thin film is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide particles, size-reducing the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide particles by grinding to produce crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures, and coating the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures onto a substrate to produce a thin film. An electrochromic multi-layer stack is also provided.

First claim

1 . A method of manufacturing a thin film comprising:
providing a plurality of crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide particles; size-reducing the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide particles by grinding to produce crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures; and coating the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures onto a substrate to produce a thin film.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide particles are produced via hydrothermal synthesis.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thin film does not comprise a binder material.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a material with a softening point less than 600° C.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a material with a softening point less than 300° C.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thin film is a layer in an electrochromic device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thin film is an electrochromic cathode layer in an electrochromic device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises: an electrically conductive layer, and an outer substrate.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive layer is selected from a group consisting of: transparent conductive oxides, thin metallic coatings, networks of conductive nanoparticles, conductive metal nitrides, and composite conductors.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the outer substrate is selected from a group consisting of: glass, and plastic.

11 . An electrochromic multi-layer stack incorporated into an electrochromic device comprising:
an electrochromic cathode layer comprising crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures; an electrically conductive layer; and an outer substrate, wherein the electrochromic cathode layer does not comprise a binder.

12 . The electrochromic multi-layer stack of claim 11 , wherein the crystalline hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanostructures are produced via hydrothermal synthesis followed by size reduction via grinding.

13 . The electrochromic multi-layer stack of claim 11 , wherein the outer substrate comprises a transparent material with a softening point less than 600° C.

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . The electrochromic multi-layer stack of claim 11 , wherein the electrically conductive layer is selected from the group consisting of: transparent conductive oxides, thin metallic coatings, networks of conductive nanoparticles, conductive metal nitrides, and composite conductors.

17 . The electrochromic multi-layer stack of claim 11 , wherein the outer substrate is selected from the group consisting of: glass, and plastic.

Assignees

• Kinestral Tech Inc

Inventors

• Roudebush John H
• Zhu Lina
• Giaquinta Daniel
• Duncan Hugues
• Turner Howard

Classifications

• B32B2307/402

  Coloured · CPC title

• B32B2307/412

  Transparent · CPC title

• B32B2264/102

  Oxide or hydroxide · CPC title

• B32B5/16

  characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder {or granules (layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02)} · CPC title

• B32B2255/20

  Inorganic coating · CPC title