ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016 Jun 15;8(23):14795-801. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b01911. Epub 2016 Jun 06.

Multicolor Electrochromics: Rainbow-Like Devices.

ACS applied materials & interfaces

Yolanda Alesanco, Ana Viñuales, Jesús Palenzuela, Ibon Odriozola, Germán Cabañero, Javier Rodriguez, Ramón Tena-Zaera

PMID: 27206084 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b01911

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive reversible coloration-change materials represent a highly demanded type of smart systems useful for a wide variety of applications, with a significant growing interest in multicolor abilities. In particular, electrochromic materials have received a great deal of attention due to their versatility and broad range of industrial uses. However, most of the existing electrochromic technologies provide a single coloration, while achieving multiple colors based on simple approaches remains a challenge. The present article reports on PVA gel-based electrochromic devices, containing a single viologen, providing a colorless and two different well-defined colored states. The successful fabrication of a device, based on two viologens (multi-EC gel) with a simple architecture (glass/TCO/multi-EC gel/TCO/glass), with five different multiswitchable colors based on four-zoned electrodes (rainbow-like ECD) is also demonstrated. This novel easy-to-make multichromic system represents a significant breakthrough toward the generation of full-color devices, expanding the potential of electrochromic technology.

Keywords: PVA gels; multielectrochromics; polyelectrolytes; smart windows; viologens

Publication Types

• Journal Article