Thermo-responsive dual band electrochromic device

Abstract

It relates to a thermo-responsive dual band electrochromic device, which is capable of selectively controlling the amount of sunlight radiation transmitted in the visible and in the near-infrared regions by operating under four distinct optical regimes, namely: fully transparent, visible blocking, near-infrared blocking, and fully blocking. The device can be regulated either by an electric stimulus, namely by controlling the sign and the intensity of the applied bias voltage, or by a thermal stimulus. In the latter the attenuation of incoming thermal radiation results increased as temperature increases. The thermo-responsive dual band electrochromic device comprises a first electrode consisting of a first transparent conductive substrate topped by a first electro-optically active layer and a second electrode consisting of a second transparent conductive substrate topped by a second electro-optically active layer separated by a temperature-dependent ion conductive layer consisting of a thermo-responsive polymer gel, an ion conductor and a plasticizer.