Matched‐dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses, using new cathodically coloring conducting polymers, with exceptional performance and incorporated into automated sunglasses

Abstract

Reported are syntheses of several new monomer precursors of cathodically coloring conducting polymers (CPs), based on a propylene dioxythiophene skeleton. These are shown to yield CPs—both as homopolymers and as copolymers—that are nearly “perfectly” matched electrochemically and electrochromically with a set of anodically coloring poly(aromatic amines), for use in dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses. Resulting dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses display very high light/dark contrast (typically up to 70/7% or 50/0.5% Transmission (integrated over visible spectrum, vs. air reference), Haze < 2%, very high cyclability (> 10 K cycles), multiyear shelf life, appealing transparent to dark‐blue‐black transition, and excellent optical memory. Dramatic lowering of switching time, from 8 to < 1 s, is demonstrated using unique applied‐potential algorithm resident on inexpensive Microcontroller chip. Working, practical dual‐polymer electrochromic spectacles are demonstrated with electrochromic lenses retrofitted to spectacles meeting ANSI Z87.1, GL‐PD 10–12 (U.S. military) specifications. These incorporate photosensor, rechargeable Li battery, Microcontroller, allow for automated operation. Ab‐initio‐design spectacles, also conforming to above specifications, are also demonstrated, with components seamlessly hidden within frame. To the best of our knowledge, the electrochromic lenses and sunglasses reported herein represent the best visible‐region electrochromic performance for dual‐polymer CP electrochromic systems to date and the first practical implementation in working sunglasses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41043.

Screen‐printable Electrochromic Polymer Inks and Ion Gel Electrolytes for the Design of Low‐power, Flexible Electrochromic Devices

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Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Derivatives: Innovative Conductive Polymers for Bioelectronics

“…Many different diols have been used, leading to a wide library of functional ProDOT monomers. Summarizing them, monomers—including aliphatic moieties, perfluorinated aliphatic chains, hydroxyl groups, aromatic groups such as substituted and unsubstituted benzenes or naphthalene—have been inserted, principally to enhance optical properties [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ]. ProDOTs functionalized with alkyl bromide [ 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 ], cyano [ 78 ], allyl [ 79 ], azide [ 30 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 80 ], or di- and mono-carboxylic acid [ 78 ] groups have been obtained as starting materials for further monomer and polymer functionalizations, as detailed in Figure 7 .…”

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

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