Patent ID: 7184198

Claim:
A display element comprising a pair of electrodes having therebetween an electrolyte layer containing silver or a silver-containing compound, the display element being driven by the pair of electrodes so as to electrochemically dissolve silver or to electrochemically deposit silver, wherein the electrolyte layer contains a compound represented by one of Formulae (1) to (7) or a compound derived from the compound represented by one of Formulae (1) to (7): wherein: R 1 through R 3 each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. wherein: M represents a hydrogen atom, a metal atom or a quarternary ammonium; Z represents a group of atoms necessary to form a nitrogen containing heterocyle combined with a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom, provided that Z is not an imidazole ring; n represents an integer of 0 to 5; R 4 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and when n is an integer of two or more, each R 4 may be the same or different, and each R 4 may be combined to form a condensed ring, wherein: Q represents a group of atoms necessary to form a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycle combined with a nitrogen atom; m represents an integer of 0 to 5; R 5 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and when m is an integer of two or more, each R 5 may be the same or different, and R 5 may be combined to form a condensed ring, H 2 N—R 6 Formula (4) wherein: R 6 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R 7 —S—S—R 8 Formula (5) wherein: R 7 and R 8 each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; R 7 and R 8 may be the same or different; and R 7 and R 8 may be combined to form a ring, R 9 —S—R 10 Formula (6) wherein: R 9 and R 10 each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; R 9 and R 10 may be the same or different; and R 9 and R 10 may be combined to form a condensed ring, wherein: R 11 and R 12 each represents an alkyl group or a hydrogen atom, provided that R 11 and R 12 are not simultaneously a hydrogen atom; and R 11 and R 12 may be combined to form a ring.