A tunable color palette of electrochromic materials achieved through an ingenious stacking of ordinary conducting polymers

Obtaining a wide color gamut and controllable color switching of electrochromic polymers (ECPs) is crucial for advanced applications. In this study, we present a multicolor palette of ECPs based on thin and transparent films of three ordinary conducting polymers: polythiophene (red), polyaniline (green), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (blue). We utilized the liquid/liquid interfacial route to produce the polymer films and achieved different color tones by stacking them in varying combinations and/or numbers of layers. Thirteen distinct colors, covering the fully visible spectrum, were prepared, and their electrochromic properties were demonstrated. Fine-tuning of the colors is possible by carefully selecting the stacked samples and applying voltage. Finally, we create a rainbow-like, multicolored electrode to showcase the potential of this technique in producing multifunctional and spatially controlled electrodes for advanced electrochromic technologies.

Automated summary

Obtaining a wide color gamut and controllable color switching of electrochromic polymers (ECPs) is crucial for advanced applications. In this study, a multicolor palette of ECPs based on thin and transparent films of three ordinary conducting polymers was developed. Thirteen distinct colors were prepared by stacking the films in different combinations and numbers of layers, and their electrochromic properties were demonstrated.