Sodium deca-tungstate /polyacrylic acid self-assembled flexible wearable photochromic composite fabric for solar UV detector

A flexible and lightweight solar ultraviolet (UV) detector compatible with cotton fabric is prepared by simple hydrogen bonding self-assembly of polyacrylic acid (PAA)and sodium deca-tungstate (SDT). Based on photochromism, the solar UV detector with good detection capabilities and the detection effect are obtained. The as-designed solar UV-induced electron transfer process imparts the detector quick response and visual color changes. The detector was tested on the spot in direct solar light and simulated solar light, which proved its outstanding performance as a flexible, wearable and visualized UV detector. Furthermore, the influence of solar doses and on-off cycle stability were studied. Therefore, the detection device fabricated can be used to indicate the intensity of UV lights by sensitive color changes, which provides a feasible idea for the preparation of novel UV detection devices.