Electrochromism: Fundamentals and Applications

Electrochromic devices have a number of important commercial applications, for instance in displays, as optical shutters, and as modulators for mirrors, windows, and sun-glasses. Electrochromism - Fundamentals and Applications is the first in-depth treatise on the topic. Written by leading scientists in the field, it is a state-of-the-art account of all aspects of electrochromism, presented at a level accessible to chemists, physicists, materials scientists and engineers. Both the physical and chemical background of electrochromic phenomena are described and a comprehensive survey of both organic and inorganic compounds and systems is given. Special emphasis is placed on providing detailed, hands-on information on applications and potential uses of electrochromic systems. This book is essential reading for scientists active in the field and for anyone wishing to enter the field. An extensive list of carefully chosen references rounds off this valuable reference source.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Introduction: electrochromism - what is electrochromism?, existing technologies, electrochromic displays and shutters, terminology of electrochromism, primary and secondary electrochromism, colour and contrast ratio, colouration efficiency, write-erase efficiency, response time, cycle life, the insertion coefficient, ECD appearance; electrochromic systems -equilibrium electrochemistry, electrochromic operation exemplified, voltammetry, charge transfer and charge transport, AC or RF electrochemistry, electrodes; construction of electrochromic devices -all-solid cells with reflective operation, all-solid cells with transmissive operation, solid electrolytes, the preparation of solid electrochromic films, liquid electrolytes, self-darkening electrochromic rearview mirror for cars employing type 1 (solution-phase) electrochromes. Part 2 Electrochromic systems: metal oxides-cobalt oxide, indium tin oxide, iridium oxide, molybdenum trioxide, nickel oxide, tungsten trioxide, vanadium pentoxide, other metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metal oxide - organic mixtures; phthalocyanine compounds - lutetium bis(phthalocyanine), other metal phthalocyanines, related species; prussian blue - preparation of prussian blue thin films, prussian blue electrochromic films, prussian blue ECDs, prussian blue analogues; other inorganic systems - deposition of metals, deposition of colloidal material, intercalation layers, inclusion and polymeric systems; bipyridilium systems - bipyridilium redox chemistry, bipyridilium species for inclusion within ECDs, recent developments; electroactive conducting polymers - polyaniline electrochromes, polypyrrole electrochromes, polythiophene electrochromes, poly(carbazole), miscellaneous polymeric electrochromes, recent developments; other organic electrochromes - monomeric species, tethered electrochromic species, electrochromes immobilised by viscous solvents; polyelectrochromism - studies of polyelectrochromic systems; photoelectrochromism and electrochromic printing - device types, electrochromic printing or electrochromography.