Transparent Wood Smart Windows: Polymer Electrochromic Devices Based on Poly(3,4‐Ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(Styrene Sulfonate) Electrodes

Abstract

Transparent wood composites, with their high strength and toughness, thermal insulation, and excellent transmissivity, offer a route to replace glass for diffusely transmitting windows. Here, conjugated‐polymer‐based electrochromic devices (ECDs) that switch on‐demand are demonstrated using transparent wood coated with poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a transparent conducting electrode. These ECDs exhibit a vibrant magenta‐to‐clear color change that results from a remarkably colorless bleached state. Furthermore, they require low energy and power inputs of 3 mWh m−2 at 2 W m−2 to switch due to a high coloration efficiency (590 cm2 C−1) and low driving voltage (0.8 V). Each device component is processed with high‐throughput methods, which highlights the opportunity to apply this approach to fabricate mechanically robust, energy‐efficient smart windows on a large scale.

Large‐Size Transparent Wood for Energy‐Saving Building Applications

“…[14] The transparent wood was mainly fabricated by removing light-absorbing substancesa nd introducing ar efractive indexmatching polymer. [19] The transparent wood can also be As an energy-saving buildingm aterial, transparent wood (TW) is highly attractive because of the advantages of high optical transmittance, excellent mechanical properties, and good thermal insulation. Luminescent transparent wood offers diverse applicationsf or the preparation of the green LED lighting tools, luminescentm agnetic switches, and anti-counterfeiting facilities.…”

“…[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] The large-size transparent woodw as obtained by infiltrating the prepolymerized methyl methacrylate( MMA) solution into delignified wood fibers rather than the intact wood template. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] The large-size transparent woodw as obtained by infiltrating the prepolymerized methyl methacrylate( MMA) solution into delignified wood fibers rather than the intact wood template.…”

Ultra‐Thin Manganese Dioxide‐Encrusted Vanadium Pentoxide Nanowire Mats for Electrochromic Energy Storage Applications

“…Electrochromic (EC) materials have wide range applications as light modulators, [1][2][3] display devices, [4,5] smart windows, [6,7] etc. Electrochromic (EC) materials have wide range applications as light modulators, [1][2][3] display devices, [4,5] smart windows, [6,7] etc.…”

Transparent Composites Made from Tunicate Cellulose Membranes and Environmentally Friendly Polyester

“…Since the hydrogels are transparent, the manufacture of transparent glasslike materials is an interesting possibility.T ransparent and semitransparent materials have many valuable applicationsi n packaging, windows, flexible displays and solar cells. [10] Cellulose-polyester composites, some of which, such as poly lactic acid( PLA), are biodegradable, have been investigated intensively. [8] To make the obtained composite environmentally friendly,b iodegradablep olyester rather than petroleum-based polymers was chosen to fill in the cellulose network.…”

“…[9] The transparent wood was furtherd emonstrated to prepare conjugated-polymerbased electrochromic devices (ECDs) after coating with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenes ulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as at ransparentc onducting electrode for potential application as energy-efficient smart windows. [10] Cellulose-polyester composites, some of which, such as poly lactic acid( PLA), are biodegradable, have been investigated intensively. [11] However,s omei ssues with thermal degradation during processing [12] and poor fiber/matrix compatibility [13] complicates the fabrication, since cellulose is hydrophilic with ar elatively low processability in contrast to the matrixp olymers.…”