Tufts University

Floyd O Arntz

Ronald B Goldner

Terry E Haas

Kwok-Keung Wong

Bertrand Morel

Guang Wei

Eugene Sullivan

Linas Jauniskis

Thin film coatings for solid state storage batteries and electrochromic energy conservation devices are now formed on low temperature glass and plastic substrates by an ion-assisted RF deposition process. The attachment of such coated glass or plastic substrates to existing windows in situ allows ordinary plate glass windows in homes, office buildings and factories to be converted to 'smart-windows' resulting in a substantial savings in heating and air conditioning costs.

Ion-beam based deposition of coatings for electrochromic devices

A multilayer, thin film solid state ionic device usable as an electrochromic window and/or as a rechargeable battery and a method for its manufacture. In one embodiment, the device comprises a transparent substrate and a thin film, five layered coating, the coating being deposited onto the substrate. The device is made by depositing a first layer of indium tin oxide onto the substrate, depositing a second layer of tungsten trioxide onto the first layer, inserting a quantity of lithium ions into the second layer so as to form a lithium-enriched second layer, depositing a third layer of lithium niobate onto the lithium-enriched second layer, sputter depositing a fourth layer of LiCoO.sub.2 onto the third layer, whereby the fourth layer is lithium-deficient, applying, in the presence of a plasma, a sufficiently large positive electrical potential to the second layer so as to cause virtually all of the lithium ions inserted thereinto to be expelled therefrom, whereby a quantity of lithium ions are added to the fourth layer to ameliorate its lithium deficiency and whereby any lithium ions expelled from the second layer but not needed to cure the deficiency of lithium ions in the fourth layer are expelled into the plasma, and then depositing a fifth layer made of indium oxide onto said fourth layer.

Methods for manufacturing solid state ionic devices

Ion blocking layers are interposed between the outer electrodes and the active layers in a five-layer electrochromic device. The ion-blocking layers are optically transparent and electronically conductive to provide for electron transport while blocking the transport of ions between the active layers and the outer electrode layers.

Transparent ion-blocking layer for electrochromic windows

Growing community of inventors

Newtonville, MA, United States of America

Floyd O Arntz