Solution Phase Electrochromic Materials and Devices

The “Smart Glass” market was recently estimated to be worth about 1.6 billion dollars US for the year 2013 by an organization called “Markets and Markets”. A significant portion of this dollar amount is believed to be the result of the sale of electrochromic rearview mirrors for motor vehicles. Electrochromic devices may involve inorganic, metal-organic or organic materials and they may involve surface confined, electrodeposition or solution phase type electrochemical systems or essentially any combination of materials or systems from these six categories since most devices involve an anode and a cathode. Out of all of these possible combinations only completely solution phase electrochromic devices have enjoyed true commercial success. The history of solution phase electrochromic materials will be reviewed and chemistry and device characteristics of these electrochromic systems will be described.