Manufacture and demonstration of organic photovoltaic-powered electrochromic displays using roll coating methods and printable electrolytes

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) were prepared on flexible substrates using spray coating and slot-die coating methods. The electrochromic materials were the conjugated electroactive polymers, poly((2,2-bis(2-ethylhexyloxymethyl)-propylene-1,3-dioxy)-3,4-thiophene-2,5-diyl) as a vibrantly colored active material (ECP-Magenta) and poly(N-octadecyl-(propylene-1,3-dioxy)-3,4-pyrrole-2,5-diyl) as a minimally colored, charge balancing material (MCCP). Two electrolyte systems were compared to allow development of fully printable and laminated devices on flexible substrates. Devices of various sizes, up to 7 × 8 cm2, are demonstrated with pixelated devices containing pixel sizes of 4 × 4 mm2 or 13 × 13 mm2. The transmission contrast exhibited by the devices, when switched between the fully bleached and fully colored state, was 58% at a visible wavelength of 550 nm, and the devices exhibited switching times of <10 s. Additionally, we demonstrate the utilization of printed organic photovoltaic devices (with or without the use of a lithium-polymer battery) to power the devices between the colored and bleached state, illustrating a self-powered ECD. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012