Improvement of Electrochromic Windows through Materials Optimization

Abstract

The electrochromic polymer made by template polymerization of aniline on poly(2-acryl-amido-2-methyl-1propanesulfonic acid (PAAMPSA) has shown potential in independent visible and near-infrared modulating smart window applications. PANI-PAAMPSA can be switched reversibly by an applied voltage through three oxidation states that change the polymer from clear to green/IR absorbing to dark blue. A suitable counter electrode is an electrochromic polymer which is colored in its oxidized state and clear in its reduced state, which is opposite the behavior of PANI-PAAMPSA. This thesis examines the potential to use ECP-magenta, an ethylhexyl substituted version of the homopolymer ProDOT (3,4 propylenedioxythiophene), as the counter electrode. The charge required to fully switch states for PANI-PAAMPSA is double that required for ECP-magenta for the same thickness, meaning the required thickness for PANI-PAAMPSA can be significantly less and still provide a balanced charge capacity for the cell.