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High-contrast and fast electrochromic switching enabled by plasmonics

Author

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  • Ting Xu

    (National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 22 Hankou Road, Nanjing 210093, China
    Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Maryland Nanocenter, University of Maryland, College Park)

  • Erich C. Walter

    (Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Maryland Nanocenter, University of Maryland, College Park)

  • Amit Agrawal

    (Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Maryland Nanocenter, University of Maryland, College Park)

  • Christopher Bohn

    (Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology)

  • Jeyavel Velmurugan

    (Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Maryland Nanocenter, University of Maryland, College Park)

  • Wenqi Zhu

    (Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Maryland Nanocenter, University of Maryland, College Park)

  • Henri J. Lezec

    (Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology)

  • A. Alec Talin

    (Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Sandia National Laboratories)

Abstract

With vibrant colours and simple, room-temperature processing methods, electrochromic polymers have attracted attention as active materials for flexible, low-power-consuming devices. However, slow switching speeds in devices realized to date, as well as the complexity of having to combine several distinct polymers to achieve a full-colour gamut, have limited electrochromic materials to niche applications. Here we achieve fast, high-contrast electrochromic switching by significantly enhancing the interaction of light—propagating as deep-subwavelength-confined surface plasmon polaritons through arrays of metallic nanoslits, with an electrochromic polymer—present as an ultra-thin coating on the slit sidewalls. The switchable configuration retains the short temporal charge-diffusion characteristics of thin electrochromic films, while maintaining the high optical contrast associated with thicker electrochromic coatings. We further demonstrate that by controlling the pitch of the nanoslit arrays, it is possible to achieve a full-colour response with high contrast and fast switching speeds, while relying on just one electrochromic polymer.

Suggested Citation

  • Ting Xu & Erich C. Walter & Amit Agrawal & Christopher Bohn & Jeyavel Velmurugan & Wenqi Zhu & Henri J. Lezec & A. Alec Talin, 2016. "High-contrast and fast electrochromic switching enabled by plasmonics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10479
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10479
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    Cited by:

    1. Hyojung Kang & Yoojung Jeon & Kyungnae Baek & SeonJu Park & Jayoon Lee & Tae Soup Shim & Jerome K. Hyun & So-Jung Park, 2025. "Dynamic birefringence and chirality of magnetically controllable assemblies of anisotropic plasmonic nanoparticles in dispersion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Cheon Woo Moon & Youngji Kim & Jerome Kartham Hyun, 2022. "Active electrochemical high-contrast gratings as on/off switchable and color tunable pixels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Dinghui Chen & Zizheng Tong & Qiushi Rao & Xingchen Liu & Hong Meng & Wei Huang, 2024. "High-Performance Black Copolymers Enabling Full Spectrum Control in Electrochromic Devices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Si-Zhe Sheng & Jin-Long Wang & Bin Zhao & Zhen He & Xue-Fei Feng & Qi-Guo Shang & Cheng Chen & Gang Pei & Jun Zhou & Jian-Wei Liu & Shu-Hong Yu, 2023. "Nanowire-based smart windows combining electro- and thermochromics for dynamic regulation of solar radiation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Jiao Geng & Liye Xu & Wei Yan & Liping Shi & Min Qiu, 2023. "High-speed laser writing of structural colors for full-color inkless printing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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