Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a charge balancing thin film comprised of a new vanadium oxide with a formula of VOx, which provides a high charge density, low coloration efficiency, an electroactive voltage in close proximity to those of some electrochromic materials, and high chemical and electrochromic stability. Vanadium oxide can be without doping or doped with others. The VOx charge balancing thin film has a porous nanostructure and is amorphous or a combination of amorphous and polycrystalline, and can work with electrochromic conjugated polymer in the device in a minimally color changing mode. A method to design a material for a charge balancing thin film to pair with a working electrode and obtain a low device voltage in an electrochromic device is disclosed. Methods to prepare related charge balancing thin films are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochromic polymer is comprised of a repeat unit comprising one or more meta-conjugated linkers (MCLs) and one or more aromatic moieties (Ars). Each of the one or more MCLs is partially conjugated with the one or more Ars at meta positions of the MCLs to form a polymer backbone of the electrochromic polymer. The electrochromic polymer undergoes an optical switching and a color change in an electrochromic device, which shows a high transparency and a high optical contrast.

Abstract: An electrochromic polymer is comprised of a repeat unit comprising one or more meta-conjugated linkers (MCLs) and one or more aromatic moieties (Ars). Each of the one or more MCLs is partially conjugated with the one or more Ars at meta positions of the MCLs to form a polymer backbone of the electrochromic polymer. The electrochromic polymer undergoes an optical switching and a color change in an electrochromic device, which shows a high transparency and a high optical contrast.

Abstract: A light-emitting electrochromic device with both electrochromic properties and light-emitting properties is disclosed. The light-emitting electrochromic device also shows multiple color-switching properties.

Abstract: A thermally stable and solvent resistant conductive polymer composite and its manufacturing friendly preparation method are disclosed. The disclosed composite presents great electrical conductivity with thermal stability and solvent resistance. A method of mixing a host thiophene conjugated polymer and a crosslinkable silane precursor simultaneously introduces both dopant and rigid cross-linked siloxane network into polymer system. The thin film made by the disclosed thermally stable and solvent resistant conductive polymer composite can be applied to fabricate various devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a disulfide containing monomer, its reduced form, its derivative, the synthesis method of this disulfide containing monomer, and the polymer containing the monomers disclosed thereof

Abstract: A method of making an electrochromic device, includes: providing an electrochromic layer comprising a p-type electrochromic material; providing an ion-storage layer comprising an n-type metal oxide; and tuning the ion-storage layer, the electrochromic layer, or both the ion-storage layer and the electrochromic layer, so that when the electrochromic device is operating, the ion-storage layer operates in a minimally color changing mode.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to electrochromic compounds, the synthesis method and the uses thereof, particularly to a family of conjugated electrochromic polymers containing solubilizing side chains, where at least one side chain contains amide functional groups. The disclosed conjugated electrochromic polymers with amide-containing side chains demonstrated excellent redox switching in not only organic but also aqueous media while maintaining high photo contrast. The presence of the amide groups is also beneficial when it comes to lower the oxidation onset potential of the polymers, making them attractive candidates for electrochromic in aqueous environment.

Abstract: Various photocrosslinkable electrochromic polymers are disclosed. The polymers are suitable for an electrochromic layer of an electrochromic device. The polymers are formed with a two-step synthesis method that includes forming a polymer precursor with one or more chromophore blocks, and mixing the polymer precursor with photocrosslinkable monomer units to form the polymer.

Abstract: A thermally stable and solvent resistant conductive polymer composite and its manufacturing friendly preparation method are disclosed. The disclosed composite presents great electrical conductivity with thermal stability and solvent resistance. A method of mixing a host conjugated polymer and a crosslinkable silane precursor simultaneously introduces both dopant and rigid cross-linked siloxane network into polymer system. The thin film made by the disclosed thermally stable and solvent resistant conductive polymer composite can be applied to fabricate various devices.

Abstract: Ion-storage layers for electrochromic devices (ECDs) that are tuned to be minimally color changing (MCC) during operation of the ECDs. In some embodiments, an ion-storage layer is composed of an n-type metal oxide that complements a p-type electrochromic (EC) layer, such as an EC layer made of a p-type EC polymer. In some embodiments, an ion-storage layer may be tuned to be MCC by configuring an ion-storage layer to have a total charge density that is higher than the total charge density of a corresponding EC layer or to have a coloration efficiency lower than the coloration efficiency of the corresponding EC layer, or both. Methods for preparing ion-storage layers are disclosed, including methods for creating highly structured metal oxide having reduced coloration efficiencies. ECD devices incorporating MCC ion-storage layers are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochromic device with one pigmentary color layer and one structural color layer is disclosed. The pigmentary color layer comprises electrochromic materials, which allow reversible and gradient switches between a colored state and a bleached state by electric field. In a colored state, the electrochromic device presents saturated pigmentary-structural additive color. In a bleached state, the structural color gradually vanished and leads to the optical transmissive state. The color coupling between these two color layers provides the disclosed devices with broader color gamut and angle-dependent optical response. Multiplexed and patterned devices have been further fabricated to demonstrate bio-mimic camouflage potentials.

Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first flexible substrate, a first transparent electrode disposed on the first flexible substrate, an electrochromic layer disposed on the first transparent electrode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed on the electrochromic layer. The solid electrolyte layer contains less than 20 wt % of neutral small organic molecules having a molecular weight of 3000 or less. The electrochromic device further includes an ion storage layer disposed on the solid electrolyte layer, a second transparent electrode disposed on the ion storage layer, and a second flexible substrate disposed on the second transparent electrode.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to electrochromic compounds and the uses thereof, particularly to series of fluoroalkyl 3,4-dioxythiophene compounds and their electrochromic polymers or co-polymers. Both compositions and process for manufacturing thereof are in the scope of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to electrochromic compounds and the uses thereof, particularly to series of fluoroalkyl 3,4-dioxythiophene compounds and their electrochromic polymers or co-polymers. Both compositions and process for manufacturing thereof are in the scope of this invention.