High Contrast Electrochromism in Organic Materials
Abstract
Conjugated polymers provide a unique encompassing set of structurally tunable optical, electronic transport, and redox properties of interest to the Air Force (AF) that allows their present and potential use in a host of applications which span, field effect transistors, light emitting diodes, solar cells and photodetectors, electrochromism, along with batteries and supercapacitors. This proposal from the Reynolds Group at Georgia Tech proposes the study and development of electrochromic (EC) color changing molecules and polymers directed to understanding how the chemical structure controls visible light absorbing and transmitting states. The electrochromic materials are being developed as lightweight and mechanically flexible thin films where their high contrast EC properties will be important in absorptive/transmissive devices (e.g. windows, glasses, goggles and dimmable visors of interest to the AF), along with reflective display devices, which can include information communicating signs, semi-transparent heads up displays and dynamic camouflage. To accomplish this, we design molecules that switch from clear to colored upon electrochemical reduction (cathodically coloring) and oxidation (anodically coloring). The electrochromes are designed with specific vibrant and saturated colors that transition to as clear as possible. In order to hit a target of 90% transmission in the bleached state and 10% transmission in the dark color neutral black state potentially useful in dimmable visors for military use, as well as energy saving windows and low power displays, we propose to use a color mixing approach with subtractive primary and secondary colors allowing us to prepare color neutral materials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 30, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501810184
Entities
People
- John Reynolds
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- United States Air Force