Competitive Advantages:
No external power source required, Simpler design, Low cost for materials.
Disclosed herein is a solid touchchromic device. The solid touchchromic device may include a conducting polymer or a conducting polymer composite film, a conducting plate, and a solid layer of a polymer-based electrolyte, the conducting plate being at least partially coated by the conducting polymer or the conducting polymer composite film. The solid touchchromic device may further include an oxidant, a salt, an acid, or a metal. Also included are methods of producing a solid touchchromic device and articles including a solid touchchromic device.Chromic devices can change color based on some inducing mechanism, such as an electrochromic window that changes color when electricity is applied, or a photochromic lens that dims when light is present. Chromic devices such as these are already in use; however, there is a need for chromic devices that can operate without an external power source that can also undergo coloration and de-coloration faster than current photochromic devices. New solid state, color changing device has been developed with a method of color change based on conducting polymers and polymer nanocomposite thin films. It is activated with a metal contact in the presence of an electrolyte. Touchchromic, a novel and low-cost chromic device that can undergo quick and vibrant color change when a specific metal contacts with the electrolyte. It shows the complete reversible effect when the metal is withdrawn. The film could be tuned to a variety of desired colors by manipulating the polymer or by adding a dye. There are many practical uses in addition to smart windows, including camouflage, vehicle windows as well as mirrors, toys, and displays.
