Advances in multicolor electrochromic devices based on inorganic materials

Abstract

With the rapid development of optoelectronic fields, electrochromic (EC) devices with multicolor tunability have received remarkable attention and have shown attractive potential for use in emerging electronic papers/billboards, see-through displays, and intelligent colorful furniture, due to their advantages of low-power consumption and easy viewing. Much of the current research on multicolor EC devices is focused on organic EC materials, but utilizing inorganic EC materials for the same purpose, which possess better stability, has been a long-term goal. This review examines the current research progress in the construction of multicolor EC devices based on the inorganic EC films with intrinsic chemical multicolor and the polychromatic EC film technology with structural color fusion developed in recent years. Among these topics, the relevant materials/devices, EC performance, construction methods, and processing technologies are comprehensively discussed and commented. Additionally, the current barriers as well as future development directions of this field are discussed.