Aging of an electrochromic device, in particular the electrolyte layer

This research project aims to investigate the aging behavior of plastic-based chromogenic systems.

Chromogenic systems (CS) are materials or multilayer structures that change their color and/or transparency in response to external stimuli (light, electrical voltage, temperature, and pressure). A specific subgroup of CS consists of electrochromic devices (ECDs), which alter their optical properties in response to an applied voltage. Their potential applications include any scenario where windows or displays need to be actively switched on or off. A few such systems are currently in use. All systems currently known from practical applications or the literature exhibit weaknesses with regard to aging behavior.

This project will therefore investigate the aging of a specific type of ECD suitable for plastics engineering. In this project, “material aging”—as distinct from system fatigue resulting from a large number of switching operations—is defined as the changes in the ECD caused by exposure to moisture, temperature, and UV radiation, and their impact on the system’s function. The research will involve extensive experimental work, which
will be evaluated and made comprehensible through a model-based description.