Electrochromic devices architectures

Indium-tin oxide (ITO) is indium oxide doped with tin oxide. Thin films of ITO have commercially valuable properties it is transparent, electrically conducting and reflects IR radiation. Applications of ITO are varied. It is used as a coating material for flat-panel computer displays, for coating architectural glass panels, and in electrochromic devices. Coating motor vehicle and aircraft windscreens and motor vehicle rear windows allows them to be electrically heated for de-icing... 

Figure 20.5 A five-layer ECD architecture. Reprinted from D. Mecerreyes, R. Marcilla, E. Ochoteco, H. Grande, J. Pomposo, R. Vergaz, J. A. Sanchez Pena, A simplified all-polymer flexible electrochromic device, Electrochim. Acta 49, 3555 (2004), Copyright 2004, with permission from Elsevier...

In addition to the previous architectures, two more alternatives are possible for the structure of an electrochromic device (1) the solution configuration, including an electrochemical cell having an electrochromic material (or two) dissolved in a liquid or gel electrolyte (Figure 20.7b), and (2) the hybrid... 

PEDOT has been found to have useful electrochromic properties - and for a long time fed the hope of inexpensive electrochromic glazings made by simple coating techniques for architectural and automobile applications. At present it seems unlikely that PEDOT-based electrochromic glazings will appear on the market in the near future. However its potential has inspired numerous and continuing studies that intend to improve the properties of the electrochromic solid, the electrolyte, and the ion storage material and to assemble innovative electrochromic devices. 

The electrochromic materials first drew interest for the realization of large area display panels, able to be read at any view angle (which is not the case for liquid crystals). However, the problems related to multiplexing in this kind of device remain in a large part uiuesolved and the two real main applications are in architecture and the automotive industry. 

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