Smart sunglasses and goggles based on electrochromic polymers

PMSE 147

Chao Ma, machao@u.washington.edu1, Minoru Taya, tayam@u.washington.edu2, and Chunye Xu, chunye@u.washington.edu2. (1) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Roberts Hall, Box 352120, Seattle, WA 98195, (2) Center of Intelligent Materials and Systems, University of Washington, Box 352600, Seattle, WA 98115
Today, people concern more and more about the sun's harmful effects on the eyes and safety issues. Sunglasses and goggles can meet this need to protect the eyes from sun light damages and influences. This paper discusses the design, process and performance of prototype smart sunglasses and goggles based on cathodic electrochromic (EC) polymers, which show several merits compared to traditional sunglasses materials as well as other smart window materials. It is a multilayer design of device. The conjugated polymer, poly [3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine] (PProDOT-Me2), is utilized as the electrochromic working layer. The counter layer of the device is vanadium oxide (V2O5) film, which serves as an ion storage layer. There is also a polymer gel electrolyte as the ionic transport layer, sandwiched between the working and counter layers. The characters of prototype device are reported, including transmittance (%T), driving power, response time, open circuit memory and lifetime.
 

Conjugated Oligomers and Polymers
8:30 AM-12:00 PM, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 McCormick Place South -- Room S504D, Level 5, Oral

Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007