Flexible, Visible/IR Flat Panel Electrochromics Based on Poly(Diphenyl Amine) and Related Conducting Polymers

We have in recent work developed large-area flat panel displays, for a classified military application, which allow for high dynamic range/color contrast in the Visible (70% Transmission dynamic range), mid- and far-IR (up to 90% Reflectance range). The displays are thin film (2 mm) flexible devices based on poly(diphenyl amine) and structurally related Conducting Polymers (CPs . A uniqe design and unique counter electrode reaction permits very high faradaic reversibility, and the devices are routinely taken to 10**6 cycles over a few days while operating for months. They show a variety of Visible colors, open circuit memory over several weeks, ms switching times, and charge capacity less than 0.0008 C/cm**2. The Phase I work will adapt this technology, using several CP/dopant systems, to fabrication of 3X3, 9-pixel matrices of 1 cm**2 pixels, each individually addressable, and an accompanying controller. The work emphasizes the combined IR+Visible capability of the technology and its flexible, thin film nature. Phase II work will miniaturize to I mm, individually addressable pixels in a 10 cm X 10 cm matrix, employing technology that includes microelectronic fabrication tech- niques. The high dynamic ranges in both Visible and IR regions appear to be unique to these CP systems, not found e.g. in liquid crystals.