Tunable graduated filters based on electrochromic materials for spatial image control

Hein, Alexander; Kortz, Carsten; Oesterschulze, E.

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52080-1

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Electrochromic devices (ECDs) have the ability to persistently and reversibly change their optical and electrical properties under the influence of an electrical voltage. [ 1 ] Such a phenomenon has led to the development of their novel transparent applications such as bistable displays, [ 2 ] variable optical attenuators, [ 3 ] plasmonic, or structural color switching, [ 4 ] optical filters, [ 5 ] and, most importantly, electrochromic smart windows for energy‐efficient buildings. [ 6,7 ] The latter class of these ECDs represents an attractive green building technology due to their ability to dynamically control indoor lighting and temperature.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Transparent Zinc‐Mesh Electrodes for Solar‐Charging Electrochromic Windows

2020

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smart windows commercialization must overcome the challenges posed by slow switching speed, nonuniform switching processes, optical contrast, and energy consumption as the device is scaled up. Consequently, having an inexpensive new energy-efficient and high optical contrast electrochromic platform with a rapid and uniform switching process is a welcomed opportunity that will accelerate the development and commercialization of large-scale electrochromic smart windows. Simultaneously, the development of such an large-scale electrochromic platform would further advance the abovementioned applications using electrochromic technologies. In a conventional electrochromic smart window, the requirement of an external energy source brings about a few drawbacks, including complicated installation, increased cost, and offsetting energy savings. [9,10] To overcome these issues, several efforts have been devoted to the implantation of photovoltaic (PV)-electrochromic window systems. [11] As schematically shown in Figure 1a, the PV device provides the needed electrical energy, via the photoelectron conversion of light photons, to operate the electrochromic smart window. [12] Although this configuration eliminates the need for an external power source, the electrical wiring is quite elaborate as it requires control circuitry to manage the current and voltage that power the electrochromic window. [10] The solar-generated power consumed by the electrochromic window renders this system far from being an energy-efficient platform. Furthermore, in a normal operation requiring active sunlight regulation, the electrochromic window needs to be colored during the day and bleached at night or during sunlight intermittency. However, unless the electrical energy is stored in an external energy storage unit (e.g., battery), the lack of solar electrical power source to bleach the electrochromic window at night or during sunlight intermittency at daytime introduces another significant challenge to this PV-electrochromic window platform. [9] Recently, we reported on a new and fundamentally different class of ECDs which facilitates the ability to efficiently retrieve the consumed energy while preserving the natural electrochromic characteristics. [2,13,14] In these devices (defined as zincanode-based electrochromic device, ZECD), an aqueous electrolyte compatible zinc anode is used as the counter electrode. Most importantly, due to the redox potential difference between Newly born zinc-anode-based electrochromic devices (ZECDs), incorporating electrochromic and energy storage functions in a single transparent platform, represent the most promising technology for next-generation transparent electronics. As the existing ZECDs are limited by opaque zinc anodes, the key focus should be on the development of transparent zinc anodes. Here, the first demonstration of a flexible transparent zincmesh electrode is reported for a ZECD window that yields a remarkable electrochromic performance in an 80 cm 2 device, including rapid switching times (3.6 and ...

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Transparent Zinc‐Mesh Electrodes for Solar‐Charging Electrochromic Windows

2020

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“…Unlike in other EC devices, we did not apply a single potential to the working electrode, but a potential gradient. We demonstrated that the constant current flow along the working electrode between two electrodes created the desired spatial potential distribution φ(x) [18]. We further showed that the spatially varying transmission T can be analytically derived calculating first the potential dependent concentration of reduced, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Electrochromic graduated filters with symmetric electrode configuration

Hein¹,

Longen²,

Carl³

et al. 2020

Opt. Express

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Graduated optical filters are commonly used for spatial image control as they are capable of darkening the overexposed parts of the image specifically. However, they lack flexibility because each filter has a fixed transmission distribution. We herein present a fully controllable graduated filter based on the electrochromic device. Its graduated transmission distribution can be spatially controlled by the application of multiple electric potentials. In this way, the control of the gradient's position and its width, transmission and angular orientation is possible. Simulation of both the spatial potential distribution and the resultant optical absorption distribution are conducted to optimize the electrode configuration and furthermore to derive a control dataset that facilitates the adjustment and thus the application of the graduated filter. Based on three objective and quantitative criteria, we identify the electrode configuration with the highest flexibility in all four controls, manufacture the device using a gravure printing process for the nanoparticle electrodes and show its successful application.

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“…[1][2][3] For this situation, a large number of researchers have done many works to "broaden sources of income and reduce expenditure". Electrochromic devices (ECDs) have emerged as the time requirement under this background and are widely used in energy-efficient buildings, [4] bistable displays, [5] variable optical attenuators, [6] optical filters, [7] structural color switching, [8] etc. Electrochromism can be simply defined as the ability of a material to change its optical characters under an applied voltage, where the reversible change of a chemical species occurs between two redox states.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in Inorganic Electrochromic Materials from Synthesis to Applications: Critical Review on Functional Chemistry and Structure Engineering

Li¹,

Dang

Zhuang³

et al. 2022

Chemistry An Asian Journal

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For the assembly of electrochromic devices (ECDs) with generally multilayer structures, supportive components usually are needed to be incorporated with EC materials. Herein, we reviewed several impressive methods to design and fabricate ECDs with high performance and versatility based on recent frontier research. The first part of the review is centered on the desirability and strengthening mechanism of nanostructured inorganic EC materials. The second part illustrates the recent advances in transparent conductors. We then summarize the demands and means to modify the formation of electrolytes for practicable ECDs. Moreover, efforts to increase the compatibility with the EC layer and ion capacity are delineated. At the end, the application prospects of inorganic ECDs are further explored, which offers a guideline for the industrialization process of ECDs.[a] B. Li National innovation center of high speed train (Qingdao) Qingdao, 266108 (P. R China)

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Tunable graduated filters based on electrochromic materials for spatial image control

Cited by 11 publications

References 25 publications

Transparent Zinc‐Mesh Electrodes for Solar‐Charging Electrochromic Windows

Transparent Zinc‐Mesh Electrodes for Solar‐Charging Electrochromic Windows

Electrochromic graduated filters with symmetric electrode configuration

Recent Advances in Inorganic Electrochromic Materials from Synthesis to Applications: Critical Review on Functional Chemistry and Structure Engineering

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