Self-Powered and Light-Adaptable Stretchable Electrochromic Display

A stretchable electrochromic display with a self-powered feature is an attractive concept in addressing the demands of information visualization and interaction without an external power supply for next-generation wearable and portable electronics. Herein, a self-powered stretchable electrochromic display is proposed for the first time, with WO3 on the stretchable conductor as the electrochromic electrode integrated in parallel with the Zn/carbon electrodes and topped with a ZnCl2-based organohydrogel. This geometrically designed electrochromic device can be self-colored by the chemical potential gap between WO3/Zn electrodes. The self-bleaching process caused by the oxidation of the reduced WO3 electrode is facilitated by the leakage current between the WO3/carbon electrodes. In this constructed self-powered system, the electrochromic electrode shows reversible coloring/bleaching performance up to 50% strain and maintains favorable stability with power-free reversible electrochemical switching for 400 cycles. Optical contrast retention at 81% is maintained for 200 stretching/recovery cycles. The prepared device combined with a phosphorescent substrate is demonstrated as a light-adaptable stretchable display, where the on/off states of the display are shown in both bright and dark conditions without power consumption. This work provides broad application prospects for futuristic multifunctional stretchable and portable display electronics.

Automated summary

A self-powered stretchable electrochromic display is proposed for the first time, using WO3 as the electrochromic electrode integrated with Zn/carbon electrodes and a ZnCl2-based organohydrogel. The device shows reversible coloring/bleaching performance up to 50% strain, with stable power-free reversible electrochemical switching for 400 cycles and 81% optical contrast retention for 200 stretching/recovery cycles. The combined device with a phosphorescent substrate demonstrates light-adaptable stretchable display without power consumption.