Electrochromic Textile Composites Based on Polyaniline-Coated Metallized Conductive Fabrics

Abstract

Functional properties of flexible reflective electrochromic composites comprised of polyaniline-coated metallized textile were investigated in this study. Polyaniline was deposited electrochemically onto metal-plated textile fabric and the resulting composites were investigated by electrochemical means as well as by optical-digital colour analysis. Surface morphology and microstructure were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Electrochromic performance of the conducting textile and polyaniline composites was optimized by tuning the applied electrochemical switching parameters. Electrochromic textile composites exhibited reversible colour change with good visual contrast between the coloured and bleached states. Functional stability of electrochromic metal-plated textile/polyaniline composite was evaluated by continuous switching between the colored states for 100 cycles. Herein presented concepts might find future use in the development of flexible, colour changing visual interfaces and/or wearable technology, the Internet of things (IoT) devices and optical sensors.