UV-stabilized electrochromic assembly based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) derivatives

[0002] The present invention relates to a UV-stabilized electrochromic assembly having controllable light transmittance, its production and its use.

[0003] The transparency of windows of vehicles in respect of electromagnetic radiation has hitherto not been able to be regulated. Phototropic glasses have hitherto been used only as glass in spectacles and have only a relatively small change in the transmission. Windows of buildings have hitherto been darkened by means of curtains, shutters, roller blinds or other movable mechanical elements. Electrochromic devices can thus be employed in a wide variety of ways. A brief overview of examples is as follows:

[0004] An electrochromic device is suitable as protection against sun or dazzling in motor vehicles. Front, side and rear windows or glass roofs can be included. The degree of darkening can be matched zone wise and steplessly to the needs of the driver depending on the position of the sun and the immediate driving situation. Integration into a computer-controlled regulating system is possible. A combination of an active element with a laminated glass unit is likewise possible, for example application of a film system to the safety glass.

[0005] The transmittance of the windows can be controlled manually or automatically, which can be used for effective protection against dazzling during night driving, automatic adjustment of the level of brightness on driving into and out of tunnels and multistorey car parks and for protection against forcible entry and theft when the vehicle is parked by preventing a view into the interior of the vehicle. Excessive heating of the interior in summer, particularly when the vehicle is parked can be prevented (cf. EP-A 0 272 428).

[0006] In buildings, electrochromic assemblies are suitable for darkening side windows and skylights of buildings, living areas, workrooms or greenhouses as controllable sun protection (visible spectral region) and heat protection (IR region) and also for protection of the eyes (visible spectral region). For protection against break-ins, glazing of bank counters or shop windows can be darkened on the press of a button. Glass doors can automatically be made visible on the approach of persons in order to avoid injury. The ability to generate virtually all colours also makes it possible to incorporate the glazing architecturally into the facade of a building. The energy consumption for controlling the transparency of a large area of window is low, particularly when the memory effect of the system can be exploited and energy is only consumed in the switching phase. A combination with heat-protection glazing (K glass) is very well suited to achieving dynamic control of the sunlight shining through a window (“smart window”). Thus, an electrochromic system can contribute to regulating and limiting the energy required for air conditioning of buildings.

[0007] The power supply to the system can also be achieved by means of solar modules. A light-sensitive sensor can determine the intensity of the sunlight and thus control the light transmittance.

[0008] The ability to produce attractive colours and display any desired contours, e.g. letters, numbers, signs and symbols (able to be produced by appropriate structuring techniques) on a large area provides advertizing with an interesting medium. Decorative and informative effects are readily possible.

[0009] Apart from the possibility of locating the system between panes of glass, there is also the alternative of using two or even only one transparent plastic film as support. This makes it possible to achieve placard-like advertizing materials with changeable information.

[0010] Electrochromic devices can be used for small display elements such as faces of watches and clocks or measuring instruments, displays for a wide variety of applications and for large display elements such as traffic signs, advertising columns, information displays at railway stations and airports or for providing parking directions. Use as variable delineation system (marking of boundaries etc. on playing areas) in sports halls is likewise possible.

[0011] They can be used wherever information is to be made visible.

[0012] In optics, electrochromic systems can be used either in combination with glasses, lenses and filters of other optical instruments as well as sole active components. Use as fade-over protection for optical detection systems is likewise possible. The system is likewise suitable as a controllable filter system in photographic processes.

[0013] An electrochromic device can also be used as a dimmable mirror, e.g. in an automobile as external or rear-view mirror, which can be darkened by application of an electric potential and thus prevents dazzling by the headlights of other vehicles (cf., for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,280,702, U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,108 (Gentex), EP-A 0 435 689, U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,455). A disadvantage of systems of the prior art (solution systems) is the colour in homogeneity after prolonged operation (segregation), particularly in the case of large mirrors (e.g. mirrors of goods vehicles). Increasing the viscosity of the solution system by addition of polymeric thickeners has been described (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,108).

[0014] An electrochromic device can also be used as a variable filter element for modulating electromagnetic radiation in certain wavelength ranges.

[0015] Electrochromic devices usually comprise a pair of glass or plastic plates of which one is mirrored in the case of a mirror. One side of each of these plates is coated with a translucent electrically conductive layer, e.g. indium-tin oxide (ITO). These plates are used to construct a sill by fixing them with their conductively coated sides facing one another. The cell between the plates contains the electrochromic system and is closed tightly. The two plates can be separably connected to a power source and controlled via the conductive layer.

[0016] In the electrochromic solution systems known from the above-cited prior art, pairs of redox substances which after reduction or oxidation form coloured, positively or negatively charged free radicals which are chemically reactive are present in a solvent. Examples are the viologen systems which have been known for a long time.

[0017] As the pair of redox substances, use is made of one reducible and one oxidizable substance. Both are colourless or have only a slight colour. Under the action of an electric potential, one substance is reduced and the other is oxidized, with at least one becoming coloured. After the potential is switched off, the two original redox substances are formed again, with decolouration or lightening of the colour occurring.

[0018] It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,108 that pairs of redox substances in which the reducible substance has at least two chemically reversible reduction waves in the cyclic voltammogram and the oxidizable substance correspondingly has at least two chemically reversible oxidation waves are suitable. Systems of this type are suitable mainly for dimmable rear view mirrors of automobiles. Since these are solution systems, they are normally not suitable for use in electrochromic windows.

[0019] Also known are systems in which the actual electrochromic redox pair is dispersed in a polymer matrix (see, for example, WO-A 96/03475). The undesirable effect of segregation is suppressed in this way.

[0020] Combinations of inorganic electrochromic components such as WO₃, NiO or IrO₂are likewise known and are possibilities as components in an electrochromic window (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,149, Electronique International No. 276, 16 (1997)).

[0021] These inorganic electrochromic components can be applied to the conductive substrate only by vapour deposition, sputtering or by a sol-gel technique. As a result, systems of this type are very expensive to produce. Efforts to replace one inorganic component by an organic polymer component have resulted in, for example, electrochromic systems based on the electrically conductive polymer polyaniline (PANI) and WO₃as complementary electrochromic materials becoming known (see, for example, B. P. Jelle, G. Hagen, J. Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 140, No. 12, 3560 (1993)). An attempt has also been made to use systems without an inorganic component in which the ITO or SnO₂layer (counterelectrode) is supposed to serve as complementary electrochromic component to substituted poly(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophenes) (U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,608).

[0022] However, it is found that such electrochromic assemblies are not able to ensure a sufficient number of switching cycles without a change occurring in the properties of the device. In addition, such electrochromic assemblies are generally sensitive to light, in particular UV light. For this reason, electrochromic assemblies containing UV stabilizers are also known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,380.

[0023] The present invention provides a UV-stabilized electrochromic assembly having a layer structure and containing at least one UV absorber, characterized in that one layer is an electrically conductive, electrochromic polydioxythiophene and a further layer is an ion-storage compound or a mixture of ion-storage compounds of the formulae (I) to (XXI)

[0024] where

[0025] Me¹and Me²each represent a metal transition group III, IV or V of the Mendeleev Periodic Table,

[0026] Me³and Me⁴each represent a metal of transition group VI or VIII of the Periodic Table,

[0027] Me⁵represents a metal of transition group V of the Mendeleev Periodic Table,

[0028] x represents a number from 0.001 to 5,

[0029] y represents a number from 0.001 to 5,

[0030] M preferably represents a metal of main group I of the Periodic Table or a proton,

[0031] Me¹preferably represents zirconium, cerium or titanium,

[0032] Me²preferably represents vanadium or niobium,

[0033] Me³preferably represents nickel or iridium,

[0034] Me⁴preferably represents molybdenum or tungsten,

[0035] Me⁵preferably represents vanadium, niobium or tantalum.

[0036] Very particular preference is given to using the following ion-storage layers:

[0037] The ion-storage layer can also be a mixture of at least two of the compounds (I) to (XXI).

[0038] Particular preference is given to using the following mixtures:

[0039] TiO₂—CeO₂

[0040] CeO₂—V₂O₅

[0041] TiO₂—V₂O₅

[0042] Li_xCeO₂—Li_xV₂O₅

[0043] Li_xTiO₂—Li_xV₂O₅

[0044] Li_xTiO₂—Li_xCeO₂

[0045] V₂O₅Nb₂O₅

[0046] Li_xV₂O₅—Li_xNb₂O₅

[0047] NiO—CeO₂

[0048] NiO—TiO₂

[0049] The ion-storage layer in the assembly of the invention thus comprises a metal oxide compound or a mixture of metal oxides. The ion-storage layers can include an Li salt when they are produced or else can be loaded electrochemically with Li ions afterwards.

[0050] The compounds of the formulae (I) to (XXI) are generally known compounds, are commercially available or can be prepared by generally known methods of inorganic chemistry (cf., for example, Hollemann-Wiberg, Lehrbuch der organischen Chemie, 71st-80th edition, Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin 1971, pages 779-781; Römpp Chemie Lexikon; Chemical Abstract 1313-96-8.

[0051] The electrochromic assembly of the invention thus contains at least one inorganic ion-storage layer. This can be applied either by means of a sol-gel process or by vapour deposition/sputtering to an electrically conductive substrate which may be provided with a metal grid to improve the conductivity. The layer can also comprise nanosize particles which can be applied by means of a casting technique.

[0052] The polydioxythiophenes are cationically charged and comprise structural units of the formula (XXII)

[0053] where

[0054] A¹and A²each represent, independently of one another, substituted (C₁-C₄)-alkyl or together form substituted or unsubstituted (C₁-C₄)-alkylene, and

[0055] n represents an integer from 2 to 10,000, preferably from 5 to 5 000,

[0056] in the presence of polyanions.

[0057] Preferred cationic polydioxythiophenes comprise structural units of the formula (XXIIa) or (XXIIb)

[0058] where

[0059] R₁and R₂represent, independently of one another, hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)-alkyl, preferably (C₁-C₁₀)-, in particular (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₁₂)-alkenyl, preferably (C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, (C₃-C₇)-cycloalkyl, preferably cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, (C₇-C₁₅)-aralkyl, preferably phenyl-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl, (C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, preferably phenyl or naphthyl, (C₁-C₁₈)-alkyloxy, preferably (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, for example methoxy, ethoxy, n- or iso-propoxy, or (C₂-C₁₈)-alkyloxy ester and

[0060] R₃, R₄represent, independently of one another, hydrogen, but not both at the same time, or (C₁-C₁₈)-alkyl, preferably (C₁-C₁₀)-, in particular (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₁₂)-alkenyl, preferably (C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, (C₃-C₇)-cycloalkyl, preferably cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, (C₇-C₁₅)-aralkyl, preferably phenyl-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl, (C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, preferably phenyl or naphthyl, (C₁-C₁₈)-alkyloxy, preferably (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, for example methoxy, ethoxy, n- or iso-propoxy, or (C₂-C₁₈)-alkyloxy ester each of which are substituted by at least one sulphonate group,

[0061] n represents a number from 2 to 10000, preferably from 5 to 5000.

[0062] Very particularly preferably, the electrochromic device of the invention contains at least one electrically conductive, electrochromic cationic or uncharged polydioxythiophene of the formulae (XXII-a-1) and/or XXII b-1)

[0063] where

[0064] R₃is as defined above,

[0065] n represents an integer from 2 to 10,000, preferably from 5 to 5000.

[0066] The polyanions are the anions of polymeric carboxylic acids such as polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids or polymaleic acids or of polymeric sulphonic acids such as polystyrenesulphonic acids and polyvinylsulphonic acids. These polycarboxylic and polysulphonic acids can also be copolymers of vinylcarboxylic and vinylsulphonic acids with other polymerizable monomers such as acrylic esters and styrene.

[0067] The anion of polystyrenesulphonic acid is particularly preferred as counterion.

[0068] The molecular weight of the polyacids providing the polyanions is preferably from 1000 to 2,000,000, particularly preferably from 2000 to 500,000. The polyacids or their alkali metal salts are commercially available, e.g. polystyrenesulphonic acids and polyacrylic acids, or else can be prepared by known methods (see, for example, Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie, vol. E 20 Makromolekulare Stoffe, part 2, (1987), p. 1141 ff.).

[0069] In place of the free polyacids required for the formation of dispersions of polydioxythiophenes and polyanions, it is also possible to use mixtures of alkali metal salts of the polyacids and corresponding amounts of monoacids.

[0070] In the case of the formula (XXIIb-1), the polydioxythiophenes bear positive and negative charges in the structural unit. The preparation of the polydioxythiophenes is described, for example, in EP-A 0 440 957 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,575).

[0071] The polydioxythiophenes are obtained by oxidative polymerization. As a result they acquire positive charges which are not shown in the formulae, since their number and position cannot be unambiguously determined.

[0072] The present invention accordingly provides a light-stabilized electrochromic device containing electrically conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) derivatives as cathodically colouring electrochromic polymers and, in addition, suitable ion-storage layers for Li ions. A gel electrolyte comprising a crosslinked or uncrosslinked polymer, an Li salt and a certain amount of a solvent is located between the electrochromic polymer layer and the ion-storage layer. The schematic structure is shown in FIG. 1, principle I).

[0073] Legend for FIG. 1:

[0074] 1,2: substrate

[0075] 3,4: electrically conductive coating, of which one can act as a mirror

[0076] 5: electrochromic polymer, e.g. PEDT/PSS

[0077] 6: ion-storage layer

[0078] 7: gel electrolyte (crosslinked or uncrosslinked)

[0079] 8,9: fine metal grid (optional)

[0080] The assembly of the invention additionally contains at least one UV absorber or a light stabilizer selected from the group consisting of

[0081] benzophenones

[0082] benzotriazoles

[0083] organonickel compounds

[0084] salicylic esters

[0085] cinnamic esters

[0086] benzylidene malonates

[0087] benzoic esters

[0088] oxalanilides

[0089] stearically hindered amines

[0090] polymeric stearically hindered amines

[0091] hydroxyphenyltriazines,

[0092] where the light stabilizer or a mixture of a plurality of light stabilizers being particularly preferably dissolved in the crosslinked or uncrosslinked polymeric gel electrolyte (cf. layer 7 in FIG. 1).

[0093] UV absorbers or light stabilizers are generally known (see, for example, Modem Plastics Encyclopedia, McGraw-Hill Inc., New York 1982) and are commercially available under various trade names (e.g. ®Chimassorb, ®Uvinul, ®Irgastab, etc.) from various suppliers (e.g. Ciba-Geigy, BASF, Clariant etc.).

[0094] The light stabilizers preferably belong to the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted cinnamic esters and substituted or unsubstituted 2-hydroxybenzophenones of the following formulae

[0095] where

[0096] R¹⁰¹represents branched or unbranched C₁-C₂₀alkyl

[0097] R¹⁰²represents hydrogen, cyano or COOR¹,

[0098] R¹⁰³, R¹⁰⁴and R¹⁰⁶represent, independently of one another, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂-alkyl or C₁-C₁₂-alkoxy and

[0099] R¹⁰⁵represents hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, C₁-C₁₂-alkoxy or hydroxy.

[0100] Very particular preference is given to using UV absorbers or light stabilizers of the formulae (C) in which

[0101] R¹⁰¹represents ethyl or 2-ethyl-1-hexyl,

[0102] R¹⁰²represents hydrogen and

[0103] R¹⁰³represents methoxy or ethoxy in the p position,

[0104] or a UV absorber of the formula (CI) in which

[0105] R¹⁰¹represents ethyl or 2-ethyl-1-hexyl,

[0106] R¹⁰²represents cyano and

[0107] R¹⁰³and R¹⁰⁴represent hydrogen,

[0108] or a UV absorber of the formula (CII) in which

[0109] R¹⁰⁵represents methoxy, ethoxy, octoxy or hydroxy and

[0110] R¹⁰⁶represents hydrogen,

[0111] or a mixture of the UV absorbers of the formulae (C) and (CI) or a mixture of the UV absorbers (C) and (CII) or a mixture of the UV absorbers (CI) and (CII) or a mixture of the UV absorbers (C) and (CI) and (CII),

[0112] in which the radicals are as defined above.

[0113] Very particular preference is thus given to an electrochromic layer structure which contains UV absorbers of the formulae (CIII), (CIV) or (CV) or a mixture of the UV absorbers of the formulae (CIII) and (CIV) or a mixture of the UV absorbers of the formulae (CIV) and (CV) or a mixture of the UV absorbers of the formulae (CIII) and (CV) in a crosslinked or uncrosslinked polymeric gel electrolyte.

[0114] Essential constituents of the light-stabilized electrochromic layer structure of the invention are UV absorbers. They are used in an amount in the range from 0.01 to 2 mol/l, preferably from 0.04 to 1 mol/l. The UV absorber present in the layer structure of the invention is known in principle or can be prepared by a method analogous to the preparation of the known UV absorbers. Preferred UV absorbers are those of the formulae (CIII) (e.g. UVINUL® 3088, BASF), (CIV) (e.g. UVINUL® 3039, BASF) and (CV) (e.g. CHIMASSORB® 90 Ciba). These products are very readily soluble in the solvents mentioned, e.g: at least 0.8 molar in propylene carbonate.

[0115] The effect of the UV absorbers was measured in electrochromic assemblies as described further below. The illumination apparatus used was the Xenotest 150 S from Heraeus. The power was 1,570 W/m²in the “outdoor sunlight” configuration.

[0116] The electrochromic polymer layer is transparent in the doped state. This can be converted into a coloured form by uptake of electrons (reduction) at the cathode with an increase in the absorbance in the visible region of the spectrum. The oxidation which occurs on the opposite side (anode) is associated with an exchange reaction of the ion-storage layer with Li ions. However, this reaction barely contributes to the generation of colour, so that it does not interfere.

[0117] The present invention accordingly provides a light-stabilized electrochromic solid-state system containing at least one redox-active electrically conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) derivatives which can, to enable them to be processed from solution, have been admixed with polystyrenesulphonate or bear a solubilizing sulphonate group in a side chain, and at least one light stabilizer. This polymer layer is preferably applied from aqueous solution, in which case the solvent is evaporated to leave the solid, dry polymer film on the substrate. However, it should also be possible to apply it by screen printing. As substrates, preference is given to using an electrically conductive, transparent glass or film system where a layer of indium-tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), K -Glas), undoped tin oxide or a layer of finely divided silver serves as electrode. It is also possible for one electrode side to consist of a metal layer e.g. Al, Cu, Pd) which is no longer transparent (for use in a mirror). The gel electrolyte contains at least one polymer (e.g. polyethylene oxide, PMMA), at least one Li salt (e.g. Li triflate, Li perchlorate), at least one solvent (e.g. propylene carbonate) and at least one light stabilizer.

[0118] The present invention provides for the use of the electrochromic device of the invention in the glazing of buildings or architectural glazing or sunroof in vehicles and also as display element, as electrochromic mirror (e.g. automatically dimming rear view mirror in automobiles) and in various optical elements.

[0119] For use as a mirror, one of the two electrodes can consist of a vapour-deposited or electrochemically deposited metal layer, e.g. aluminium, silver, copper, platinum, palladium or rhodium.

[0120] The present invention also provides a light-stabilized electrochromic system in which the colour-producing electrochromic polymer compound functions simultaneously as its own electrode, as a result of which only a conductive coating of ITO, fluorine-doped tin oxide or a metal is necessary. (see FIG. 1, principle II)).

[0121] Legend for FIG. 1, principle II:

[0122] 1,2: substrate

[0123] 4: electrically conductive coating which can also act as a mirror

[0124] 5: electrochromic polymer

[0125] 6: ion-storage layer

[0126] 7: gel electrolyte (crosslinked or uncrosslinked)

[0127] 8,9: fine metal grid (optional)

[0128] The light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention is particularly notable for the fact that a combination with a heat-protection glass (commercially available for architectural glazing purposes) explicitly as a positive feature of the assembly is possible for saving energy in the case of brightly sunlit rooms and can also be exposed to intense, direct sunlight. Further explicit electrodes of another material are thus unnecessary, since the heat-protection layer limits the transmission of IR radiation and at the same time, due to its electric conductivity, assumes the electrode function in the electrochromic assembly.

[0129] The light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention is also notable for the fact that the electrochromic layer can also absorb IR radiation in certain ranges and can thus limit the passage of heat through the pane.

[0130] The light-stabilized electrochromic layer structure of the invention is suitable as a constituent of an electrochromic device. In an electrochromic device, the light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention serves as a medium having variable transmission, i.e. the light transmittance of the system alters under the action of an electric potential as a result of it changing from a colourless to a coloured state. The present invention therefore also provides electrochromic devices containing a light-stabilized electrochromic assembly according to the invention. Applications of this electrochromic device are in architectural glazing and in vehicles, e.g. as window, automobile sunroof, rear view mirror in an automobile, display or as an optical element or as constituent of information display units such as instrument displays in vehicles of all types. It can likewise be used as a window in a greenhouse.

[0131] If the electrochromic device is a electrochromic display device, at least one of the two conductive layers or both is/are divided into electrically separate segments which are individually connected to a power source.

[0132] However, it is also possible for only one of the two plates to have a conductive coating and to be divided into segments. The segments can be separated, for example, by mechanical removal of the conductive layer, e.g. by scoring, scratching, scraping or milling, or by chemical means, for example by etching using, for example, a hydrochloric acid solution of FeCl₂or SnCl₂. The location of this removal of the conductive layer can be controlled by means of masks, e.g. masks of photoresist. However, the electrically separate segments can also be produced by targeted, e.g. by means of masks, application, e.g. by sputtering or printing, of the conductive layer. The segments are connected to a power source by means of, for example, fine strips of conductive material so that the segment is electrically connected to a contact at the edge of the electrochromic device. These fine contact strips can consist of the same material as the conductive layer itself and can be produced together with it, for example when it is divided into segments. However, they can also, e.g. to improve the conductivity, consist of another material such as fine metallic conductors, for example of copper or silver. A combination of metallic material and the material of the conductive coating is also possible. The metallic conductors can, for example, either be applied in fine wire form, e.g. adhesively bonded on, or be printed on. All these above-described techniques are generally known from the production of liquid-crystal displays (LCDs).

[0133] In the case of displays, the displays produced according to the invention can be viewed in transmitted light or in reflected light by means of mirroring.

[0134] If the electrochromic device is an electrochromic window, a fine metal grid can be vapour-deposited on one or both electrodes. This improves the surface conductivity of the substrates and is advantageous in the case of large areas in order to achieve uniform colouring.

[0135] The light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention preferably contains at least one transparent electrically conductive coating comprising indium-tin oxide (In₂O₃: SnO₂(ITO)), tin oxide (SnO₂), fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO₂: F; FTO or “K-glass”, “heat-protection glass”), antimony-doped tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, aluminium-doped zinc oxide or a transparent metal film which is sufficiently thin, e.g. silver coating (heat-protection glass), on a substrate (glass or plastic).

[0136] Other conductive polymers such as substituted or unsubstituted polythienyls, polypyrroles, polyanilines, polyactetylene or polythiophenes can also be used.

[0137] In the light-stabilized assembly of the invention, the actual electrochromic polymer is advantageously also used as its own conductive electrode material in place of one of the abovementioned conductive coatings.

[0138] Very particular preference is given to using indium-tin oxide (In₂O₃:SnO₂(ITO)), tin oxide (SnO₂), fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO₂: F; FTO, “K-glass”, “heat-protection glass”) or a transparent silver coating which is sufficiently thin (heat-protection glass, e.g. ®PLANITHERM from Saint-Gobain, or heat-protection film).

[0139] If one of the plates is mirrored, this conductive layer can also be utilized. Particular preference is here given to using silver, aluminium, copper, platinum, palladium and rhodium.

[0140] The light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention preferably contains a transparent gel electrolyte comprising the following components:

[0141] polymer (crosslinked or uncrosslinked)

[0142] Li salt

[0143] solvent or solvent mixture

[0144] light stabilizer or mixture of a plurality of light stabilizers

[0145] Preferred polymers are polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene oxide(PEO), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)-ethoxy)phosphazene, poly(oxymethylene-oligo(oxyethylene)), polyethylene glycols (PEGs), polypropylene glycols (PPG) or polymers based on polyepichlorohydrin or polyethers and also mixtures thereof. Copolymers such as ethylene oxide-propylene oxide (EO/PO) copolymers or oxymethylene-bridged polyethylene oxides are also suitable.

[0146] Particular preference is given to using polyethers and polyethylene oxides.

[0147] Particular preference is also given to photocrosslinkable polymer systems based on acrylates, e.g. polyethylene glycol 400 diacrylate, polyethylene glycol 400 dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol 600 diacrylate, polyethylene glycol 600 dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol methacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether acrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), hexanediol diacrylate, dianol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetracrylate, butyl methacrylate and also the acrylates ® UAVPLS 2258 and Roskydal® UALPV 94/800 from Bayer AG and also their acrylate precursors. The photocrosslinkable polymer systems should still be able to be cured in the presence of the solvent used and the Li salt with the aid of light activation by means of a customary photoinitiator such as Darocure 1173, 1116 or Irgacure 184 (E. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt) even between thick glass plates which are provided with a transparent electrically conductive coating. Illumination is carried out after filling the cell by irradiation with a suitable lamp (e.g. UV lamps such as Hg or Xe lamps). Curing of polymer systems by electron beam curing is likewise possible for the systems mentioned.

[0148] Very particular preference is also given to polymer systems which can be crosslinked thermally and catalytically via isocyanate groups with OH-functional polyether. compounds, e.g. polyether polyols, to form polyurethanes. Polyurethanes having different soft segments, e.g. polytetramethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol, are also suitable.

[0149] Very particular preference is also given to modified siloxanes derived from, for example, gamma-glycidylpropyltrimethoxysilane. Variants modified by means of propylene oxide, for example, are also possible.

[0150] Apart from the UV absorbers, the gel electrolytes can also contain organic and/or inorganic fillers or additives. Here, the customary additive such as heat stabilizers, optical brighteners, flame retardants, flow improvers, fire retardants, dyes, pigments, fillers or reinforcing materials, finely divided minerals, fibres, chalk, quartz flour, glass, aluminium oxide, aluminium chloride and carbon fibres can be added in customary amounts. The function of a spacer can be performed, for example, by glass spheres, polymer particles, silica gel or sand grains having a defined size, should this be necessary.

[0151] Preferred Li salts are LiClO₄, LiCF₃SO₃, LiN(SO₂CF₃)₂, LiCl, LiPF₆.

[0152] Very particular preference is here given to LiClO₄, LiCF₃SO₃and LiN(SO₂CF₃)₂.

[0153] Particularly preferred solvents are propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, acetonitrile and γ-butyrolactone and also mixtures thereof.

[0154] Very particular preference is given to using propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate.

[0155] Substrates used in the light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention are glass or various types of plastic.

[0156] Preference is given to transparent substrates of any type.

[0157] Apart from glass, specifically heat-protection glass when used as electrochromic window (in thicknesses of 10 μm in the case of “flexible glass, thin glass” to 3 cm), particularly preferred materials are polyesters (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN)), various types of polycarbonate (e.g. ®Makrolon, APEC-HT), polysulphones, polyimides and polycycloolefins. The polymeric substrate can be used as flexible film or as a thick plate. The substrate can also be curved so that the assembly matches the shape of the material underneath. A flexible plastic substrate can also, after construction of the overall electrochromic system, be laminated or adhesively bonded onto various materials, e.g. curved glass.

[0158] The plastic substrates can additionally be provided with barrier layers against water and oxygen.

[0159] Preference is here given to TiO_x, SiO_xon polyester, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate, DuPont, (cf. packaging films) or fluorinated polymers and possible combinations thereof and also barrier layers based on inorganic-organic hybrid systems.

[0160] The light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention can, when configured as a flexible film system, be laminated or adhesively bonded as complete electrochromic composite system onto the safety glass of automobiles. In addition, it can be integrated into the hollow space of a double glazing system in buildings.

[0161] The control mechanism of the electrochromic assembly is based on the reversible electrochemical doping of the electrochromic polymer which results in great colour changes, for example from colourless to blue. The assembly is driven by means of defined voltages.

[0162] The reduction and oxidation processes in the electrochromic assembly of the invention generally occur by electron uptake and release at the cathode and anode, respectively, and the potential difference between the electrodes is preferably from 0.1 to 5 V, very particularly preferably from 0.1 to 3 V. After the electric potential is switched off, the previously achieved coloration can be maintained for some time (memory effect) so that permanent coloration can be achieved with minimum energy consumption. Charge equilibration and thus decolouration can be achieved by brief reversal of the polarity.

[0163] The light-stabilized electrochromic assembly of the invention can be supplied with power by means of solar modules, even in the case of relatively large areas.

[0164] To improve wetting of the substrates, it is also possible to add a wetting agent (e.g. Fluortensid)

[0165] The polymer Baytron® P (aqueous dispersion of the conductive polymer PEDT/PSS, polyethylenedioxythiophene-polystyrenesulphonate from Bayer AG)

[0166] is applied from aqueous solution additionally containing is isopropanol to the electrically conductive side of a K-glass plate (heat-protection glass from Flach glas, surface resistance ˜20Ω/sq) by means of a spin coater, with four applications of 15 seconds each being made at a rotational speed of 1500 rpm. During application, the solvent is evaporated by means of a hair dryer.

[0167] This gives a transparent, only very slightly bluish polymer film. Measurement of the layer thickness by means of a profilometer gave a value of 0.6 μm.

[0168] 2.5 g of ammonium vanadate NH₄(VO₃) are dissolved in 25 g of water and 37.5 g of the ion exchanger Lewatit S100 (Bayer AG) are added. The mixture is subsequently stirred for 10 minutes at room temperature. While stirring rapidly, another 475 g of water are then added and the mixture is stirred for another 10 minutes. The mixture is filtered and the solution obtained is aged by leaving it to stand for 24 hours at room temperature. Finally, 0.25 g of the wetting agent Fluortensid FT 248 (Bayer AG) is added. This solution is ready to use.

[0169] The solution from Example 2 is applied to the conductive side of a K-glass plate and a uniform layer of the sol is produced using the spin coater (10 sec at 1000 rpm). The layer is subsequently heated at 100° C. for two hours. Measurement of the layer thickness using the profileometer gives a result of 10-20 nm.

[0170] 7.6 g of the unsaturated aliphatic urethane acrylate Roskydal® UA VP LS 2258 (Bayer AG) are mixed with 0.19 g (2.5% by weight) of photoinitiator ®Darocure 1173 from Fa. Merck, Darmstadt, and 0.3 g (3% by weight) of lithium trifluoromethanesulphonate from Aldrich and 0.1 g (1% by weight) of UVINUL 3039 (BASF) in 2 g of dry 1,2-propylene carbonate from Aldrich. This mixture is pourable and can be crosslinked photochemically, thus enabling a gel electrolyte which no longer flows to be prepared.

[0171] 7.6 g of the amine-modified polyether acrylate Roskydal® UA LP V94/800 (Bayer AG) are mixed with 0.19 g (2.5% by weight) of photoinitiator Darocure 1173 from Merck, Darmstadt, and 0.3 g (3% by weight) of lithium trifluoromethanesulphonate from Aldrich and 0.1 g (1% by weight) of UVINUL 3039 (BASF) in 2 g of dry 1,2-propylenecarbonate from Aldrich. This mixture is pourable and can be crosslinked photochemically, thus enabling a gel electrolyte which no longer flows to be prepared.

[0172] The still uncrossed gel electrolytes 1 and 2 from Examples 4 and 5 are applied in a wet film thickness of 200 μm to the ion-storage layer 1 from Example 3 and brought into contact with an electrochromic layer from Example 1. This composite is conveyed at a belt speed of 10 m/min under a UV lamp (IST lamp). This crosslinks the gel electrolyte and gives transparent systems containing a gel electrolyte which no longer flows.

[0173] The function of each of the UV-stabilized electrochromic cells 1 and 2 is tested by application of a potential of 2 V from a DC source.

[0174] Reversal of the polarity enables both states (coloured/decoloured) to be demonstrated.

[0175] The coloured state has an intense blue coloration. Repeated reversal of the polarity enables the stability of the electrochromic assembly to be shown.

[0176] For comparison with a cell without UV protection, a gel electrolyte 3 identical to gel electrolyte 1 (Example 4) except for the absence of a UV absorber was prepared. The complete electrochromic cell 3 was manufactured as described in Example 6.

[0177] This was carried out by a method analogous to Example 7. No difference in the switching behaviour of the cells 1 and 3 can be observed visually.

[0178] To determine the effect of the UV absorber, the electrochromic cells 1, 2 and 3 are irradiated for one week in an illumination apparatus Xenotest 15OS from Heraeus. The irradiation power in the “outdoor sunlight” configuration used is 1570 W².

[0179] Comparison of the electrochromic cells 1, 2 and 3 in a test analogous to example 7 shows that, after irradiation, the electrochromic cell 3 which had not been UV-stablized displays significantly poorer properties in respect of the switching behaviour and the maximum achievable coloration.