Electrochemical luminescent solutions and devices incorporating such solutions

Claim 2

AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING ELECTROCHEMICAL LUMINESCENT SOLUTION FOR USE IN AN ELECTRO-GENERATED CHEMICAL LUMINESENT DEVICE OPERATING AT A PREDETERMINED POTENTIAL, SAID SOLUTION COMPRISING A FLUORESCENT METAL CHELATE LUMINESCOR, AN APROTIC SOLVENT FOR SAID METAL CHELATE, AND AN ELECTROLYTE COMPRISING AN ORGANIC COMPOUND ELECTROINACTIVE AT SAID POTENTIAL, SAID METAL CHELATE BEING CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STABLE ION RADICALS AT SAID PREDETERMINED POTENTIAL, THE RADICALS TAKING PART IN A REACTION IN WHICH EXCITED STATES ARE FORMED AND THEN ANNIHILATED WITH EVENTUAL EMISSION OF LIGHT, SAID SOLUTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF O2 AND WATER, SAID CHELATE BEING THE MOSTREADILY OXIDISED OR REDUCED CONSTITUENT IN SAID SOLUTION, THE METAL COMPONENT OF SAID CHELATE BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF RUTHENIUM, PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM AND THE LIGAND COMPONENT OF SAID CHELATE BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BIPYRIDINE, 1,10-PHENANTHROLINE, 2,2''2"TERPYRIDINE AND TETRAPHENYLPORPHIN.

Claim 3

The solution according to claim 1, wherein said metal chelate is selected from the group consisting of RuLxn where x is 3, n is 2 and L is bipyridine; RuLxn where x is 3, n is 2 and L is 1,10-phenanthroline; RuLxn where x is 2, n is 2 and L is 2,2''2''''-terpyridine; Pt (II) Alpha , Beta , gamma , delta - tetraphenylporphin; and Pd (II) Alpha , Beta , gamma , delta - tetraphenylporphin.

Claim 4

The solution according to claim 2, wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, benzonitrile, propylene carbonate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and methylenechloride.

Claim 5

The solution of claim 2, wherein the amount of said metal chelate in said solution is sufficient to produce visible light when said solution is subjected to said potential.

Claim 6

The solution of claim 4, wherein the amount of metal chelate in said solution is up to about 0.1 molar.

Claim 7

The solution of claim 3, wherein the concentration of said electrolyte in said solution is about 10 to 200 millimolar.

Claim 8

The solution of claim 6, wherein the organic electrolyte is capable of dissociating in said solution, said electrolyte remaining unreduced and unoxidized under the influence of the operating potential in said cell.

Claim 9

The solution of claim 6, wherein said electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of alkylammonium perchlorate, alkylammonium fluoroborates, and alkylammonium toluene sulphonate.

Claim 10

The solution of claim 8, further including an additive selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, and xylene, the amount of additive, chelate and solvent in said solution being sufficient so that the conductivity of the solution is maintained.

Claim 11

The solution of claim 9, wherein the proportion of metal chelate in said solution is up to about 0.1 molar.

Claim 12

The solution of claim 1, wherein the proportion of metal chelate in said solution is up to about 0.1 molar.

Claim 13

The solution of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said electrolyte in said solution is about 10 to 200 millimolar.

Claim 14

The solution of claim 12, wherein said electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of alkylammonium perchlorate, alkylammonium fluoroborates, and alkylammonium toluene sulphonate.

Claim 15

The solution of claim 13, further including an additive selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, and xylene, the amount of additive, chelate and solvent in said solution being sufficient so that the conductivity of the solution is maintained.

Claim 16

The solution of claim 1, wherein said metal chelate is RuLxn where x is 3, n is 2 and L is bipyridine.

Claim 17

The solution of claim 1, wherein said solvent is acetonitrile, said chelate is RuLxn where x is 3, n is 2 and L is bipyridine, and said electrolyte is tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate.

Claim 18

The solution of claim 16, wherein the concentration of the chelate is about 1 millimolar and the concentration of the electrolyte is about 100 millimolar.

Claim 19

The solution of claim 1, wherein the amount of said metal chelate in said solution is sufficient to produce visible light when said solution is subjected to said potential.

Claim 20

The solution of claim 1, wherein the moisture content of said solvent is below about 1 part in 105 and the oxygen content is below about 5 parts in 105.

Claim 21

The solution of claim 1, wherein said predetermined potential is about 2 volts.

Claim 22

A process for producing light comprising applying an electrical potential between two electrodes in contact with an electrically conducting electrochemical luminescent solution including a metal chelate having suitable oxidation states at cell operating potentials such that when in solution said chelate is capable of producing stable ion radicals at said operating potential, the radicals taking part in a reaction in which excited states are formed and then annihilated with the eventual emission of light, said electrochemical-luminescent solution comprising a fluorescent metal chelate luminescor, an aprotic solvent for said metal chelate, and an electrolyte comprising an organic compound electroinactive at said potential, said metal chelate being capable of producing stable ion radicals at said predetermined potential, the radicals taking part in a reaction in which excited states are formed and then annihilated with eventual emission of light, said solution being substantially free of O2 and water, said chelate being the most readily oxidized or reduced constituent in said solution, the metal component of said chelate being selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, platinum and palladium and the ligand component of said chelate being selected from the group consisting of bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2''2''''-terpyridine and tetraphenylporphin.

Claim 23

A process for producing light comprising applying an electrical potential between two electrodes in contact with an electrically conducting electrochemical luminescent solution including a metal chelate having suitable oxidation states at cell operating potentials such that when in solution said chelate is capable of producing stable ion radicals at said operating potential, the radicals taking part in a reaction in which excited states are formed and then annihilated with the eventual emission of light, said electrochemical-luminescent solution comprising a fluorescent metal chelate luminescor, an aprotic solvent for said metal chelate, and an electrolyte comprising an organic compound electroinactive at said potential, said metal chelate being capable of producing stable ion radicals at said predetermined potential, the radicals taking part in a reaction in which excited states are formed and then annihilated with eventual emission of light, said solution being substantially free of O2 and water, said chelate being the most readily oxidized or reduced constituent in said solution, the metal component of said chelate being selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, platinum and palladium and the ligand component of said chelate being selected from the group consisting of bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2''2''''-terpyridine and tetraphenylporphin.