Orange to green switching anthraquinone-based electrochromic material

An easily accessible anthraquinone-benzodithiophene-based high bandgap polymer (PTAq) was synthesized by Stille coupling reactions in remarkably high yield (96.5%). The highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of the polymer was estimated from the onset of oxidation in a cyclic voltammetry study to be −5.7 eV. PTAq showed an orange-to-green color switching with the application of a 1.0-V external potential to the polymer film, which was visible to the naked eye. The optical behavior change was also monitored using ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy and revealed a respectable 75% transmittance change when the polymer film was subjected to a 1.0-V external potential. The high color contrast observed makes PTAq one of the most promising materials for electrochromic device applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47729.     

Plasmonic Oxygen-Deficient TiO2-x Nanocrystals for Dual-Band Electrochromic Smart Windows with Efficient Energy Recycling

Dual-band electrochromic smart windows capable of the spectrally selective modulation of visible (VIS) light and near-infrared (NIR) can regulate solar light and solar heat transmittance to reduce the building energy consumption. The development of these windows is however limited by the number of available dual-band electrochromic materials. Here, plasmonic oxygen-deficient TiO_2-x nanocrystals (NCs) are discovered to be an effective single-component dual-band electrochromic material, and that oxygen-vacancy creation is more effective than aliovalent substitutional doping to introduce dual-band properties to TiO₂ NCs. Oxygen vacancies not only confer good near-infrared (NIR)-selective modulation, but also improve the Li⁺ diffusion in the TiO_2-x host, circumventing the disadvantage of aliovalent substitutional doping with ion diffusion. Consequently optimized TiO_2-x NC films are able to modulate the NIR and visible light transmittance independently and effectively in three distinct modes with high optical modulation (95.5% at 633 nm and 90.5% at 1200 nm), fast switching speed, high bistability, and long cycle life. An impressive dual-band electrochromic performance is also demonstrated in prototype devices. The use of TiO_2-x NCs enables the assembled windows to recycle a large fraction of energy consumed in the coloration process (“energy recycling”) to reduce the energy consumption in a round-trip electrochromic operation.     

Trilayer Nanomesh Films with Tunable Wettability as Highly Transparent,Flexible, and Recyclable Electrodes

Metallic mesh materials are promising candidates to replace traditional transparent conductive oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO) that is restricted by the limited indium resource and its brittle nature. The challenge of metal based transparent conductive networks is to achieve high transmittance, low sheet resistance, and small perforation size simultaneously, all of which significantly relate to device performances in optoelectronics. In this work, trilayer dielectric/metal/dielectric (D/M/D) nanomesh electrodes are reported with precisely controlled perforation size, wire width, and uniform hole distribution employing the nanosphere lithography technique. TiO₂/Au/TiO₂ nanomesh films with small hole diameter (≤700 nm) and low thickness (≤50 nm) are shown to yield high transmittance (>90%), low sheet resistance (≤70 Ω sq^?1), as well as outstanding flexural endurance and feasibility for large area patterning. Further, by tuning the surface wettability, these films are applied as easily recyclable flexible electrodes for electrochromic devices. The simple and cost‐effective fabrication of diverse D/M/D nanomesh transparent conductive films with tunable optoelectronic properties paves a way for the design and realization of specialized transparent electrodes in optoelectronics.     

Transparent Zinc-Mesh Electrodes for Solar-Charging Electrochromic Windows

Newly born zinc-anode-based electrochromic devices (ZECDs), incorporating electrochromic and energy storage functions in a single transparent platform, represent the most promising technology for next-generation transparent electronics. As the existing ZECDs are limite d by opaque zinc anodes, the key focus should be on the development of transparent zinc anodes. Here, the first demonstration of a flexible transparent zinc-mesh electrode is reported for a ZECD window that yields a remarkable electrochromic performance in an 80 cm² device, including rapid switching times (3.6 and 2.5 s for the coloration and bleaching processes, respectively), a high optical contrast (67.2%), and an excellent coloration efficiency (131.5 cm² C⁻¹). It is also demonstrated that such ZECDs are perfectly suited for solar-charging smart windows as they inherently address the solar intermittency issue. These windows can be colored via solar charging during the day, and they can be bleached during the night by supplying electrical energy to electronic devices. The ZECD smart window platform can be scaled to a large area while retaining its excellent electrochromic characteristics. These findings represent a new technology for solar-charging windows and open new opportunities for the development of next-generation transparent batteries.     

Integrating Flexible Ultralight 3D Ni Micromesh Current Collector with NiCo Bimetallic Hydroxide for Smart Hybrid Supercapacitors

Flexible and lightweight supercapacitors with superior mechanical flexibility and outstanding capacity are regarded as an ideal power source for wearable electronic devices. Meanwhile, incorporating additional novel characters such as transparency and electrochromism can further benefit the development of smart supercapacitors. Nevertheless, the application of the commonly used planar-structural current collectors is seriously restricted by their intrinsic properties such as poor rigidity, large thickness, and limited loading surface area. Flexible and ultralight current collectors with 3D architecture, high conductivity, and easy integration are believed to be the most appropriate alternatives to build high-performance supercapacitors. In this study, a novel and scalable manufacturing technique is developed to produce a flexible and ultralight 3D Ni micromesh (3D NM) current collector for supercapacitor. Flexible smart supercapacitor integrated by 3D NM and high active Ni–Co bimetallic hydroxide (3D NM@NiCo BH) delivers a considerable rate performance (60.6% capacity retention from 1 to 50 mA cm⁻²). Furthermore, the fabricated hybrid supercapacitor device integrated with electrochromic functionality can visually indicate the energy level by a color display. This flexible electrochromic supercapacitor based on ultralight 3D Ni micromesh provides a novel insight into multifunctional energy storage systems for smart wearable electronic devices.     

A Ca-Ion Electrochromic Battery via a Water-in-Salt Electrolyte

Multivalent-ion batteries with electrochromic functionality are an emerging green technology for development of low-carbon society. Compared to Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Al³⁺, Ca²⁺ has a low polarization strength similar to that of Li⁺, therefore Ca²⁺ for electrochromism and battery can avoid kinetic issues caused by other multivalent-ions with high polarization strength. Here, by exploiting Ca-ion carriers for electrochromism and a water-in-salt (WIS) Ca(OTF)₂ electrolyte for the first time, a new and safe aqueous Ca-ion electrochromic battery (CIEB) has been demonstrated. The WIS Ca(OTF)₂ electrolyte demonstrates enhanced anion-cation interactions and decreased water activity. Vanadium oxide (VO_x) and indium hexacyanoferrate (InHCF) films are respectively developed as anode and cathode because of their stable and high-rate Ca²⁺ insertion/extraction, as well as matched electrochromism. The CIEB demonstrates a stable and high-rate capability, a high energy density of 51.4 mWh m⁻² at a power density of 1737.3 mW m⁻², and a greenish yellow-to-black electrochromism. The presented results are beneficial for understanding redox kinetics in WIS electrolytes, and inspire researches on batteries and electrochromism with multivalent-ions.     

电致变色玻璃对办公建筑室内光热环境的控制

将电致变色玻璃实物安装于上海闵行一实验台进行测试。这个实验台包括2个几乎相同的办公建筑会议室,南侧是玻璃窗。其中一个会议室安装电致变色玻璃,可见光透过率为0.01~0.59,另一个会议室安装Low-e玻璃。2个房间均安装了内遮阳帘。研究中分析了电致变色玻璃对室内光环境和热环境的控制效果,同时,与安装Low-e玻璃和内遮阳的会议室的光、热效果进行对比。结果表明,非空调工况时,电致变色玻璃能够提供更均匀、稳定和舒适的室内热环境;同时,电致变色玻璃能够控制室内照度在一定范围内,特别适用于办公建筑室内光环境的舒适性。     

State‐of‐the‐Art Neutral Tint Multichromophoric Polymers for High‐Contrast See‐Through Electrochromic Devices

Two new multichromophoric electrochromic polymers featuring a conjugated EDOT/ProDOT copolymer backbone (PXDOT) and a reversible Weitz‐type redox active small molecule electrochrome (WTE) tethered to the conjugated chain are reported here. The careful design of the WTEs provides a highly reversible redox behavior with a colorless red switching that complements the colorless blue switching of the conjugated backbone. Subtractive color mixing successfully provides high performing solution processable polymeric layers with colorless neutral tint switchable limiting states for application in see‐through electrochromic devices. Design, synthesis, comprehensive chemical and spectroelectrochemical characterization as well as the preparation of a proof‐of‐concept device are discussed.     

All-solid-state electrochromic device of electrodeposited WO3 and prussian blue film with PVC gel electrolyte

An all-solid-state electrochromic device (SED) employing electrodeposited WO₃ and prussian blue film with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel electrolyte that has high conductivity (10⁻³ S/cm) at room temperature has been fabricated. The SED has been found to have excellent electrochromism and memory characteristics. A reversible color change between blue and colorless was observed when an appropriate potential was applied repeatedly to the electrochromic display device. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 70: 1955–1958, 1998