Final Report Summary - NANOEFFECTS (Nanocomposites with high colouration efficiency for electrochromic smart plastic devices)
The NANOEFFECTS project aimed to develop novel multifunctional hybrid nanocomposite coatings with high colouration efficiency such as heterocycle-based conductive polymers as well as Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs), and, based thereupon, smart all-plastic devices, with outstanding performance in terms of cost-effectiveness, durability and electrochromic switching characteristics. The pilot application would be smart sunglasses.
The project's potential applications comprised electrochromic eyewear, anti-static coatings, new conductive polymers, plastic glazings, smart textiles as well as transparent conductors for plastic substrates.
The core achievement constituted a novel conducting polymer-polysiloxane nanocomposite coating with outstanding eletro-optical properties that changes its optical absorption properties within seconds with a high electrochromic contrast upon the application of a small electric voltage. Its colouration efficiency is more than 600 square centimetres per Celsius. The electrochromic layer preparation required only wet chemical, cost and energy-efficient processing steps. Eventually, the electrochromic films were virtually colourless and highly transparent in their bleached states, which is of utmost importance for use in the ophthalmic sector. The novel Electrochemical device (ECD) technology would constitute a breakthrough in smart shading technology by overcoming common limitations of state-of-the-art technology, such as slow response times, low cycling stability, low colouration efficiency and incompatibility with lightweight impact resistant plastic substrates. It could be considered also for a multitude of uses and applications in which the degree of visible or infrared light transmittance requires to be controlled for reasons of safety, comfort and energy saving.
The project's potential applications comprised electrochromic eyewear, anti-static coatings, new conductive polymers, plastic glazings, smart textiles as well as transparent conductors for plastic substrates.
The core achievement constituted a novel conducting polymer-polysiloxane nanocomposite coating with outstanding eletro-optical properties that changes its optical absorption properties within seconds with a high electrochromic contrast upon the application of a small electric voltage. Its colouration efficiency is more than 600 square centimetres per Celsius. The electrochromic layer preparation required only wet chemical, cost and energy-efficient processing steps. Eventually, the electrochromic films were virtually colourless and highly transparent in their bleached states, which is of utmost importance for use in the ophthalmic sector. The novel Electrochemical device (ECD) technology would constitute a breakthrough in smart shading technology by overcoming common limitations of state-of-the-art technology, such as slow response times, low cycling stability, low colouration efficiency and incompatibility with lightweight impact resistant plastic substrates. It could be considered also for a multitude of uses and applications in which the degree of visible or infrared light transmittance requires to be controlled for reasons of safety, comfort and energy saving.
