Convenient-assembled, open-ended solid-state electrochromic devices enabled by electrolyte glue

Abstract

Electrochromic (EC) technology has a tremendous development over the past few decades and attracts wide attention due to its promising applications in smart windows, smart displays and wearable electronics. However, strict sealed requirements of EC devices increase the difficulty of manufacturing processing and production cost, limiting their practical application in common life. Moreover, the disassembly and replacement of EC devices are still enormous challenges in practical application. Here, open-ended solid-state EC devices were prepared by directly sticking the EC electrode and counter electrode with photocurable electrolyte glue which did not require additional encapsulation and could be conveniently assembled and replaced by ourselves in common life. The poly(butyl acrylate-co-methoxypolyethylene glycol acrylate) (P(BA-co-mPEGDA))-based solid-state electrolyte formed after UV curing of electrolyte glue exhibited excellent adhesion to electrodes through the construction of intimate contact interface, which improved the ion transport efficiency at the interface and interface stability of EC devices. The Open-ended solid-state EC devices exhibited excellent electrochemical, environmental and mechanical stability, and show promising applications in exchangeable smart windows and designable wearable displays.