Fast switching electrochromic devices for displays

Abstract

This article features the application of electrochromic (EC) devices for displays and the efforts made to improve the switching speed and contrast performance of these devices. The article primarily focuses on the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly deposition technique to deposit thin films of EC materials ranging from organic, inorganic and conducting polymers. Device sizes were varied for comparison of the performance of the lab-made prototype device with the commercially available “small pixel” size displays. EC devices fabricated by LbL assembly, as shown with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) results, obtained with a switching speed of less than 30 ms and make EC flat-panel displays possible by adjusting film thickness, device size and type of material. The high contrast value (84%) for ruthenium purple suggests that its LbL films can be used for low-power consumption displays where contrast, and not fastest switching, is of prime importance.