title: Multicolor Electrochromic Devices Based on Molecular Plasmonics.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules, the hydrogen-terminated, sub-nanometer-scale version of graphene, support plasmon resonances with the addition or removal of a single electron. Typically colorless when neutral, they are transformed into vivid optical absorbers in either their positively or negatively charged states. Here, we demonstrate a low-voltage, multistate electrochromic device based on PAH plasmon resonances that can be reversibly switched between nearly colorless (0 V), olive (+4 V), and royal blue (-3.5 V). The device exhibits highly efficient color change compared to electrochromic polymers and metal oxides, lower power consumption than liquid crystals, and is shown to reversibly switch for at least 100 cycles. We also demonstrate the additive property of molecular plasmon resonances in a single-layer device to display a reversible, transmissive-to-black device. This work illuminates the potential of PAH molecular plasmonics for the development of color displays and large-area color-changing applications due to their processability and ultralow power consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, §Department of Physics and Astronomy, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Grant J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Stec
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, §Department of Physics and Astronomy, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lauchner
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, §Department of Physics and Astronomy, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, §Department of Physics and Astronomy, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1633-2937
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordlander
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, §Department of Physics and Astronomy, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Naomi J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8461-8494
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Halas
keywords: electrochromic; molecular plasmons; plasmonics; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; transparent device