Highly-flexible monolithic integrated infrared electrochromic device based on polyaniline conducting polymer

The widespread use of the flexible infrared electrochromic device (IR-ED) fundamentally depends on not only the IR emissivity modulation ability of the functional layer but the component assembling structures. However, building integrated assembling structure for excellent flexibility and service life is an urgent but a challenging task due to exfoliation of the components of the traditional sandwich structure IR-ED during the use of bending and folding. Herein, we employed both sides of gold-plated nylon porous membrane as ion transport layer and electrode layer to construct highly-flexible monolithic integrated IR-ED. The dodecyl benzene sulfonate acid (DBSA)-doped PANI films were electrodeposited on the both side of gold-plated nylon porous membrane. Then the electrolyte was filled into the nylon porous membrane to successfully construct the highly-flexible monolithic integrated IR-ED. Compared with the traditional sandwich structure IR-ED, the unique configuration endows excellent IR electrochromic performance, ultra-high flexibility and structural stability. The monolithic integrated IR-ED can reversibly convert between colored state (dark green) and bleached state (golden yellow) upon the imposed external voltages, and the IR emission modulation of 0.43 and 0.40 is obtained at the wavelength ranges of 8–14 µm and 2.5–25 µm. The illustrated capabilities make the highly-flexible monolithic integrated IR EC device promising for thermoregulation related technologies and adaptive camouflage platforms.