title: Multicolor Electrochromics: Rainbow-Like Devices.
abstract: Stimuli-responsive reversible coloration-change materials represent a highly demanded type of smart systems useful for a wide variety of applications, with a significant growing interest in multicolor abilities. In particular, electrochromic materials have received a great deal of attention due to their versatility and broad range of industrial uses. However, most of the existing electrochromic technologies provide a single coloration, while achieving multiple colors based on simple approaches remains a challenge. The present article reports on PVA gel-based electrochromic devices, containing a single viologen, providing a colorless and two different well-defined colored states. The successful fabrication of a device, based on two viologens (multi-EC gel) with a simple architecture (glass/TCO/multi-EC gel/TCO/glass), with five different multiswitchable colors based on four-zoned electrodes (rainbow-like ECD) is also demonstrated. This novel easy-to-make multichromic system represents a significant breakthrough toward the generation of full-color devices, expanding the potential of electrochromic technology.
authors.affiliation: IK4-CIDETEC Research Center, Paseo Miramón 196, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Alesanco
authors.affiliation: IK4-CIDETEC Research Center, Paseo Miramón 196, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viñuales
authors.affiliation: IK4-CIDETEC Research Center, Paseo Miramón 196, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palenzuela
authors.affiliation: IK4-CIDETEC Research Center, Paseo Miramón 196, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Ibon
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Odriozola
authors.affiliation: IK4-CIDETEC Research Center, Paseo Miramón 196, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cabañero
authors.affiliation: IK4-CIDETEC Research Center, Paseo Miramón 196, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: IK4-CIDETEC Research Center, Paseo Miramón 196, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tena-Zaera
keywords: PVA gels; multielectrochromics; polyelectrolytes; smart windows; viologens