| abstract |
An electrochromic element (10) useful in an electrochromic glass or mirror device and a process for making such element. The element is a five-layered structure including an electrolyte ion conducting layer (20) interposed between first and second inorganic electrochromic layers (16, 18) which are interposed between a pair of conductive electrodes (12, 14). The second inorganic electrochromic layer (18) is amorphous. The first and second inorganic electrochromic layers are different and are capable of exhibiting color-forming properties complementary to one another upon the incorporation of at least one H, Li, Na, K, Ag, Cu or Tl ion. The electrolyte ion conducting layer may be a copolymer of ethylene oxide, butylene oxide or methyl glycidyl ether, and optionally a small amount of allyl glycidyl ether, along with an ionizable salt, or may be a polyurethane gel formed by reacting the copolymer with triisocyanate, along with an ionizable salt. The second inorganic electrochromic layer comprises a transition element chalconide or halide. The electrochromic element may also comprise a plurality of five-layer structures in tandem, each pair separated by a substrate. |