Flexible, Switchable Electrochromic Textiles

Abstract

The construction of electrochromic multilayers on textiles is described. Polyester foils are sputtered with a thin layer of translucent indium tin oxide (ITO). On these ITO layers, WO3 and polyaniline (PANI), respectively, are deposited electrochemically in a continuous process. Both the PANI- and WO3-based materials are equipped with an ion-conductive interface layer composed of lithium poly(styrene sulfonate). Electrochromic elements are made by laminating a PANI- and a WO3-modified substrates together and by fixing the final material on textile substrates. Electrical control is realized by connecting a metallic fabric to each of the two electrochromic parts of the element. The electrochromic behavior of these materials can be switched reversibly within a few minutes.