Sensitometric characteristics of an all‐solid‐state photoelectrochromic pixel for an electrochromic light‐addressable display

Abstract— An all solid‐state photoelectrochromic element (PECE) was developed on the basis of electrochromic layers of WO₃ and polyaniline with a layer of polymer electrolyte placed on a base of polyamidosulfoacid, in which a thin‐film CdS_xSe_1?x photoresistor was used as an electronic key. The dependence of the sensitometric characteristics of the PECE on the applied voltage was studied.     

热处理WO3电变色膜稳定性研究

采用电子束蒸发淀积ＷＯ３薄膜。根据已有的ＷＯ３薄膜脱水过程结论而选择适当温度对薄膜进行退火处理。在大量含水的和不含水的两类Ｌｉ＾＋电解质中进行比较性着色和消色循环实验，表明在２９０℃以下热退火处理能明显增加ＷＯ３薄膜在含水 电解质中的循环寿命。     

Electrochemistry of polyaniline: Study of the pH effect and electrochromism

Polyaniline was electrochemically synthesized from an aqueous medium with various acid electrolytes via potentiodynamic and potentiostatic techniques. The electrochemical synthesis of polyaniline was studied over various substrates, including Pt, Ti, Ni, and SnO₂ coated glass, and in various acid electrolytes. Cyclic voltammograms of electrochemically synthesized polyaniline were studied in HCl in a pH range of 1–4. Probable electrochemistry and chemical changes were deduced that occurred when polyaniline film was electrochemically oxidized and reduced between ?0.2 and 1.0 V versus a Ag/AgCl reference electrode in an acidic electrolyte at pH 1, and three corresponding oxidation and reduction peaks were described instead of two redox peaks (as observed by W. S. Huang, B. D. Humphrey, and A. G. MacDiarmid, J Chem Soc Faraday Trans 1 1986, 82, 2385). The electrochromic property was studied with changes in the chemical states of polyaniline during electrochemical oxidation and reduction. A new viscous electrolyte, aqueous AlCl₃ (pH 2), saturated with AgCl was used for the construction of an electrochromic display device. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 378–385, 2002     

Studies on spray pyrolyzed molybdenum trioxide thin films

Semiconducting molybdenum trioxide thin films have been prepared by employing simple and inexpensive spray pyrolysis technique. Films are found to be polycrystalline in nature with hexagonal phase. Optical band gap energy (direct) and room temperature electrical resistivity are of the order of 2·9 eV and 10⁸ ohm-cm, respectively. These films exhibit cathodic electrochromism.     

Electrochromic display devices of tungstic oxide containing vanadium oxide or cadmium sulphide as a light-sensitive layer

Solid-state electrochromic display devices (ECDs) have been prepared using vacuum deposited tungstic oxide as the primary electrochromic material. Such devices form colour during irradiation from a fluorescent-tube as light source. Initial experiments incorporated (evaporated) CdS films and the proton-conducting poly(ethylene oxide)-phosphoric acid electrolyte (1:1) plasticised with acetonitrile. Successful photoelectrochromic devices were prepared in this way provided the electrolyte was anhydrous, since films of CdS are sensitive to water-attack. Another device to evince photoelectrochromism was one containing layers of WO₃ and V₂O₅. This combination of oxides was the most promising, responding to a 1/20s flash of intense white light. As yet, the colour formed in this way cannot be electro-bleached. These displays may also be used as normal—electrolytically driven—devices in the absence of irradiation.     

A Dual-Mode Electrochromic Platform Integrating Zinc Anode-Based and Rocking-Chair Electrochromic Devices

The complementary electrochromic device, where the optical transmittance changes upon the flow of cations back and forth between anodic and cathodic electrodes, operates in a rocking-chair fashion if it can inherently self-discharge. Herein, the first demonstration of a dual-mode electrochromic platform having self-coloring and self-bleaching characteristics is reported, which is realized by sandwiching zinc metal within a newly-designed Prussian blue (PB)-WO₃ rocking-chair type electrochromic device. It is demonstrated that the redox potential differences between the zinc metal and the WO₃/PB electrodes endow the self-color-switching of these electrodes. By employing a hybrid electrolyte of Zn²⁺/K⁺, it is further shown that the colored PB-WO₃ rocking-chair device is capable of spontaneously bleaching when the anodic and cathodic electrodes are coupled. This dual-mode light-control strategy enables the electrochromic devices to exhibit four distinct optical states with the highest optical contrast of 72.6% and fast switching times (<5 s for the bleaching/coloration processes). Furthermore, the built-in voltage of the dual-mode electrochromic devices not only promotes energy efficiency, but also augments the bistability of the devices. It is envisioned that the broad implication of the present platform is in the development of self-powered smart windows, colorful displays, optoelectronic switches, and optical sensors.     

Electrosynthesis and characterizations of a multielectrochromic copolymer based on pyrrole and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene

A copolymer based on pyrrole and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was electrochemically synthesized on an indium tin oxide ITO/glass electrode in acetonitrile containing lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄). The resultant copolymer is characterized via cyclic voltammetry, FTIR, SEM, XPS, and spectroelectrochemical analysis. The spectroelectrochemical analysis revealed the copolymer film has distinct electrochromic properties with respect to the homopolymers, and presented four colors (amaranth, brick red, dark grey, and light blue) under various applied potentials. For the copolymer in the neutral state, the calculated onset energy for the π–π* transition (E_g) is 1.69 eV, and the absorption peak (λ_max) is located at 508 nm. The maximum transmittance contrast (ΔT%) is 39.2% at 946 nm between the fully oxidized and intermediate(?0.4 V) states. Successive cyclic voltammograms and electrochromic switching experiment indicate the good stability of the copolymer because of the incorporation of EDOT units into the polypyrrole. It retains 81% of the original electroactivity and 71.8% of contrast after 2000 cycles. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013