Electrochromic materials

Electrochromic materials are currently attracting much interest in academia and industry for both their fascinating fundamental spectroelectrochemical properties and their commercial applications. A large number of electrochromic materials are available from all branches of synthetic chemistry. In this review some of the most important examples from the major classes of electrochromic materials, namely the transition metal oxides, Prussian Blue systems, 1,1′-disubstituted-4,4′-bipyridylium salts (the viologens), conducting polymers, metallopolymers and metal phthalocyanines are described. Examples of their use in both prototype and commercial electrochromic devices are given.