Green revolution in electronic displays expected to ease energy and health crises

As future energy-saving optoelectronics, bistable electrochromic (EC) materials/devices have high energy efficiency for potential applications as smart window, display and information/energy storage, etc., due to the ability of maintaining optical states without energy consumption. However, further development is hindered for the lack of in-depth understanding of related key factors and universally applicable design strategies for bistability. Herein, we reported a new strategy based on "active energy-exchange" with aid of proton coupled electron transfer, which can dynamically adjust the HOMO/LUMO energy levels of materials to obtain good bistability from traditional non-bistable materials. This strategy was thoroughly studied and proved by taking quinone derivatives and bromocresol green derivatives as examples. The device obtained after further polymerization and optimization showed remarkable bistability, coloration efficiency and application potential in energy-saving flexible displays. The success, challenges and cognitive gains of this strategy not only accelerate the development of various energy-saving optoelectronic materials/devices, but also likely stimulate rapid progress of physics, chemistry, life sciences, applied mathematics, precision instruments, etc.

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“…with better functions and energy-saving characteristics will also will be developed inspired by this mechanism. 30,31…”

Section: The Materials Involved For the Semi-solid Electrochromic Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

A Strategy of Stabilization via Active Energy-Exchange for Bistable Electrochromic Displays

Xiao-jun

Jia

et al. 2022

CCS Chem

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“…Electrochromic devices are synonymously associated with dynamic windows, nonemissive dynamic displays, and optically tunable materials. This aesthetic technology has great potential in energy-saving architectural buildings and automotive, augmented visual reality, and wearable displays. − Nevertheless, electrochromic technology has yet to realize widespread adoption due to its limited optical states, slow response, and poor durability. Conventional electrochromic technology has mainly focused on developing nanostructured inorganic materials, organic polymers, inorganic–organic blends, and viologens. − Electrochromic devices based on reversible metal electrodeposition/dissolution − that switch between clear and colored states are viewed as exciting alternatives to traditional smart glass, − offering high contrast and durability.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Robust Trioptical-State Electrochromic Energy Storage Device Enabled by Reversible Metal Electrodeposition

Chen

Zhou

et al. 2021

ACS Energy Lett.

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Reversible electrochemical mirror (REM) electrochromic devices based on reversible metal electrodeposition are exciting alternatives compared with conventional electrochromic because they offer electrochemical tunability in multiple optical states, long durability, and high contrast. Different from conventional electrochromic materials, of which the color change depends on the intercalation/deintercalation of ions into electrochromic films, the change in the optical states of REMs is based on the reversible electrodeposition and dissolution of metal. In this study, a REM electrochromic device with a Cu hybrid electrolyte composed of aqueous and nonaqueous components is proposed, which serves as an electrolyte reservoir that hosts Cu ions for reversible electrodeposition/dissolution. The hybrid electrolyte promotes the electrochemical reversibility of the Cu redox, an enhanced electrochromic performance, and a robust cycling stability of 5000 cycles (minor degradation of 4.71%). The investigation of the discharging/charging of the Cu hybrid REM device reveals that the Cl–/ClO– redox mechanism occurs at the cathode. Finally, an unprecedented dual-functional Cu hybrid REM energy storage device has been realized.

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“…15,16 If bistable EC technology could be used in smart materials and devices, such as smart windows and information displays, the power consumption could be reduced greatly. 17 Although researchers have tried to achieve the goal of bistable EC materials by modifying the structure of the conjugated polymer and optimizing the morphology of WO 3 , the results were still unsatisfactory because of their intractable deficiencies, such as confining absorption spectra, low molar absorption coefficients, and unstable oxidation/reduction states. 18−22 Recently, a bistable EC system based on the reversible electroacid/electrobase method has been designed.…”

Section: ■ Reversible Electroacids/electrobases and Electrochromic Ma...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bistable eletrochromism refers to the situation in which each color/state of materials and devices can be maintained without consuming electricity and can be switched by an external stimulus. , If bistable EC technology could be used in smart materials and devices, such as smart windows and information displays, the power consumption could be reduced greatly . Although researchers have tried to achieve the goal of bistable EC materials by modifying the structure of the conjugated polymer and optimizing the morphology of WO 3 , the results were still unsatisfactory because of their intractable deficiencies, such as confining absorption spectra, low molar absorption coefficients, and unstable oxidation/reduction states. − …”

Section: Reversible Electroacids/electrobases and Electrochromic Mate...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Stimuli-Induced Reversible Proton Transfer for Stimuli-Responsive Materials and Devices

2021

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Conspectus Stimuli-responsive materials have a great potential in various novel photoelectric devices, such as self-adaptive adjustment devices, intelligent detection, molecular computers with information storage capability, camouflage and anticounterfeiting display, various energy-saving displays, and others. However, progress in related areas has been relatively slow because of the lack of high-performance smart materials and the limitations of available reaction mechanisms currently. To address these problems fundamentally, new mechanisms need to be designed and developed, and learning from nature is an effective and intelligent method to achieve this long-awaited target, such as mimicking of proton transfer processes in nature at the molecular/supramolecular level. The stimuli-induced reversible proton transfer system is composed of materials that release or capture protons in response to stimuli and switch molecules that control color and/or fluorescence modulation by protons, and it is applied in stimuli-responsive materials and devices, including bistable electronic/electrochromic devices, electrofluorochromic devices, water-jet rewritable paper, visible-light-responsive rewritable paper, and mechanochromic materials. To help researchers gain deep insight into stimuli-induced reversible proton transfer, we attempted to summarize its reaction mechanism and design principle, and discuss strategies to design and prepare various related stimuli-responsive materials and devices. This Account discusses the different systems in which a color/fluorescence change is induced by the proton transfer process under various stimuli, including electric field, water, light, heat, and stress. Relative very promising applications as well as their performance especially for energy-saving and environmentally friendly devices are then summarized, such as energy-saving bistable electrochromic devices, water-jet rewritable paper, and visible-light-responsive rewritable paper. Meanwhile, we focus on the key influence factors and useful additives for improving the device’s performance. At last, challenges and bottlenecks faced by stimuli-responsive materials and devices based on the mechanism of reversible proton transfer are proposed. Moreover, we put forward some suggestions on solving these limitations. These exciting results reveal that smart materials based on the mechanism of proton transfer are extremely attractive and possess great potential in the next generation of energy and resource saving and environmental protection display. We hope that this Account further prospers the field of intelligent stimuli-responsive discoloration materials and next-generation green displays.

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Green revolution in electronic displays expected to ease energy and health crises

Cited by 39 publications

References 81 publications

A Strategy of Stabilization via Active Energy-Exchange for Bistable Electrochromic Displays

A Strategy of Stabilization via Active Energy-Exchange for Bistable Electrochromic Displays

Robust Trioptical-State Electrochromic Energy Storage Device Enabled by Reversible Metal Electrodeposition

Stimuli-Induced Reversible Proton Transfer for Stimuli-Responsive Materials and Devices

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