Intelligent Biomimetic Chameleon Skin with Excellent Self-Healing and Electrochromic Properties

Functional gel materials for next-generation electrochromic devices and applications

Flexible, wearable, bistable displays, visualized energy storage devices and large-area smart windows based on electrochromic (EC) technology are regarded as promising next-generation sustainable display technologies, with the potential to improve people's lives by enabling low-energy consumption, vision-friendly, smart display, and energy-efficient building solutions. Recently, gel-based EC devices have gained considerable research interest and have emerged as an effective platform for EC applications due to their unique and enhanced properties. Compared to solid-state and liquid-state EC devices, gel-based EC systems offer superior processability and scalability, improved mechanical properties such as flexibility and stretchability, and high ionic conductivity without leakage or volatility issues. This review summarizes and analyzes the gelation chemistry in EC systems, focusing on their relationship with key EC properties of the device. Ionic conductivity, temperature adaptability, and mechanical characteristics of the gels such as stretchability, self-healing ability, flexibility, and viscosity are foundational for enabling diverse functional EC applications. We introduce the preparation methods of related gels for EC devices and then discuss the factors influencing the properties and the strategies for tuning them, including the control of morphology, network architecture, polymer skeletons, functional groups, and additives within ion gels. Representative and latest applications of gel-based electrolytes in EC devices for various promising displays were then presented. Finally, we critically analyze the remaining challenges that need to be addressed to enable the practical deployment of gel-based EC devices and offer more insights into future directions for advancing EC technologies.

Recent advances in flexible multifunctional electrochromic devices

Electrochromism refers to the phenomenon in which certain materials undergo a redox reaction under an applied voltage or current, resulting in reversible changes in their optical properties and color appearance. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) show great potential in smart windows, anti-glare rear-view mirrors and displays due to the advantages of low energy consumption and simple control mechanisms. However, traditional ECDs are unfavorable for wearable and deformable optoelectronics due to the structural rigidity and limited functions. Thus, flexible ECDs integrating visual information with other advanced technologies can realize multifunctionality and further expand their application fields. This review first introduces the structure and recent development of flexible ECDs, followed by comprehensively summarizing the recent development of flexible multifunctional ECDs, including energy harvesting, energy storage, multicolor displays, and smart windows. Finally, the challenges, development trends and future prospects in flexible multifunctional ECDs are proposed and discussed. We hope that this review can guide and accelerate the development of flexible multifunctional ECDs in the new era of smart optoelectronics.

Bio-inspired Mechanically Responsive Smart Windows for Visible and Near-Infrared Multiwavelength Spectral Modulation

Mechanochromic light control technology that can dynamically regulate solar irradiation is recognized as one of the leading candidates for energy-saving windows. However, the lack of spectrally selective modulation ability still hinders its application for different scenarios or individual needs. Here, inspired by the generation of structure color and color change of living organisms, a simple layer-by-layer assembly approach toward large-area fabricating mechanically responsive film for visible and near-infrared multiwavelength spectral modulation smart windows is reported here. The assembled SiO2 nanoparticles and W18O49 nanowires enable the film with an optical modulation rate of up to 42.4% at the wavelength of 550 nm and 18.4% for the near-infrared region, separately, and the typical composite film under 50% stretching shows ≈41.6% modulation rate at the wavelength of 550 nm with NIR modulation rate less than 2.7%. More importantly, the introduction of the multilayer assembly structure not only optimizes the film's optical modulation but also enables the film with high stability during 100 000 stretching cycles. A cooling effect of 21.3 and 6.9 °C for the blackbody and air inside a model house in the real environmental application is achieved. This approach provides theoretical and technical support for the new mechanochromic energy-saving windows.

New Advances in Covalent Network Polymers via Dynamic Covalent Chemistry

Covalent network polymers, as materials composed of atoms interconnected by covalent bonds in a continuous network, are known for their thermal and chemical stability. Over the past two decades, these materials have undergone significant transformations, gaining properties such as malleability, environmental responsiveness, recyclability, crystallinity, and customizable porosity, enabled by the development and integration of dynamic covalent chemistry (DCvC). In this review, we explore the innovative realm of covalent network polymers by focusing on the recent advances achieved through the application of DCvC. We start by examining the history and fundamental principles of DCvC, detailing its inception and core concepts and noting its key role in reversible covalent bond formation. Then the reprocessability of covalent network polymers enabled by DCvC is thoroughly discussed, starting from the significant milestones that marked the evolution of these polymers and progressing to their current trends and applications. The influence of DCvC on the crystallinity of covalent network polymers is then reviewed, covering their bond diversity, synthesis techniques, and functionalities. In the concluding section, we address the current challenges faced in the field of covalent network polymers and speculates on potential future directions.

Bioinspired Supramolecular Hydrogel from Design to Applications

Nature offers a wealth of opportunities to solve scientific and technological issues based on its unique structures and function. The dynamic non-covalent interaction is considered to be the main base of living functions of creatures including humans, animals, and plants. Supramolecular hydrogels formed by non-covalent bonding interactions has become a unique platform for constructing promising materials for medicine, energy, electronic, and biological substitute. In this review, the self-assemble principle of supramolecular hydrogels is summarized. Next, the stimulation of external environment that triggers the assembly or disassembly of supramolecular hydrogels are recapitulated, including temperature, mechanics, light, pH, ions, etc. The main applications of bioinspired supramolecular hydrogels in terms of bionic objects including humans, animals, and plants are also described. Although so many efforts are done for revealing the synergized mechanism of the function and non-covalent interactions on the supramolecular hydrogel, the complexity and variability between stimulus and non-covalent bonding in the supramolecular system still require impeccable theories. As an outlook, the bioinspired supramolecular hydrogel is just beginning to exhibit its great potential in human life, offering significant opportunities in drug delivery and screening, implantable devices and substitutions, tissue engineering, micro-fluidic devices, and biosensors.

Biomimetic Wearable Sensors: Emerging Combination of Intelligence and Electronics

Owing to the advancement of interdisciplinary concepts, for example, wearable electronics, bioelectronics, and intelligent sensing, during the microelectronics industrial revolution, nowadays, extensively mature wearable sensing devices have become new favorites in the noninvasive human healthcare industry. The combination of wearable sensing devices with bionics is driving frontier developments in various fields, such as personalized medical monitoring and flexible electronics, due to the superior biocompatibilities and diverse sensing mechanisms. It is noticed that the integration of desired functions into wearable device materials can be realized by grafting biomimetic intelligence. Therefore, herein, the mechanism by which biomimetic materials satisfy and further enhance system functionality is reviewed. Next, wearable artificial sensory systems that integrate biomimetic sensing into portable sensing devices are introduced, which have received significant attention from the industry owing to their novel sensing approaches and portabilities. To address the limitations encountered by important signal and data units in biomimetic wearable sensing systems, two paths forward are identified and current challenges and opportunities are presented in this field. In summary, this review provides a further comprehensive understanding of the development of biomimetic wearable sensing devices from both breadth and depth perspectives, offering valuable guidance for future research and application expansion of these devices.

Approach to Significantly Enhancing the Electrochromic Performance of PANi by In Situ Electrodeposition of the PANi@MXene Composite Film

Electrochromic materials (ECMs) are capable of reversibly adjusting their transmittance or reflectance properties in response to changes in the external biasing voltages. In this study, we enhanced the electrochromic and electrochemical properties of polyaniline (PANi) effectively through the incorporation of MXene Ti2CTx using an in situ composite strategy. This improvement in the electrochromic and electrochemical properties observed can be attributed to the intermolecular forces between the aniline group of PANi and the terminal groups of MXene Ti2CTx sheets. The presence of hydrogen bonds between the PANi monomers and the MXene sheets was confirmed through theoretical calculations and photoluminescence results, which effectively improved the composite interfaces. Additionally, the PANi@MXene composite films were successfully prepared through a simple one-step in situ polymerization process, as verified by SEM and XPS characterization. The electrochemical studies revealed enhanced electronic conductivity, a high ion diffusion coefficient, and a narrow energy redox gap, all contributing to the excellent electrochemical properties observed. Overall, our results demonstrate that the MXene Ti2CTx composition effectively enhances the electrochromic performance of PANi. The PANi@MXene composite films exhibited a high optical modulation range, rapid switching response time, good thermal radiation regulation, and excellent operational stability. This composite strategy significantly improves the performance and practical applicability of ECMs.

Neighboring Molecular Engineering in Diels-Alder Chemistry Enabling Easily Recyclable Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites

Although a variety of dynamic covalent bonds have been successfully used in the development of diverse sustainable thermosetting polymers and their composites, solving the trade-off between recovery efficiency and comprehensive properties is still a major challenge. Herein, a "one-stone-two-birds" strategy of lower rotational energy barrier (Er ) phosphate-derived Diels-Alder (DA) cycloadditions was proposed for easily recyclable carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced epoxy resins (EPs) composites. In such a strategy, the phosphate spacer with lower Er accelerated the segmental mobility and dynamic DA exchange reaction for network rearrangement to achieve high-efficiency repairing, reprocessing of the EPs matrix and its composites and rapid nondestructive recycling of CF; meanwhile, incorporating phosphorus-based units especially reduced their fire hazards. The resulting materials simultaneously showed excellent thermal/mechanical properties, superb fire safety and facile recyclability, realizing the concept of recycling for high-performance thermosetting polymers and composites. This strategy is of great significance for understanding and enriching the molecular connotation of DA chemistry, making it potentially applicable to the design and development of a wide range of dynamic covalent adaptable materials toward practical cutting-edge-tech applications.

Oxidative-Reductive Near-Infrared Electrochromic Switching Enabled by Porous Vertically Stacked Multilayer Devices

Here, we demonstrate for the first time the ability of a porous π-conjugated semiconducting polymer film to enable facile electrolyte penetration through vertically stacked redox-active polymer layers, thereby enabling electrochromic switching between p-type and/or n-type polymers. The polymers P1 and P2, with structures diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-π_bridge-3,4,-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT)-π_bridge [π_bridge = 2,5-thienyl for P1 and π_bridge = 2,5-thiazolyl for P2] are selected as the p-type polymers and N2200 (a known naphthalenediimide-dithiophene semiconductor) as the n-type polymer. Single-layer porous and dense (control) polymer films are fabricated and extensively characterized using optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering. The semiconducting films are then incorporated into single and multilayer electrochromic devices (ECDs). It is found that when a p-type (P2) porous top layer is used in a multilayer ECD, it enables electrolyte penetration to the bottom layer, enabling oxidative electrochromic switching of the P1 bottom layer at low potentials (+0.4 V versus +1.2 V with dense P2). Importantly, when using a porous P1 as the top layer with an n-type N2200 bottom layer, dynamic oxidative-reductive electrochromic switching is also realized. These results offer a proof of concept for development of new types of multilayer electrochromic devices where precise control of the semiconductor film morphology and polymer electronic structure is essential.

Soft Fiber Electronics Based on Semiconducting Polymer

Fibers, originating from nature and mastered by human, have woven their way throughout the entire history of human civilization. Recent developments in semiconducting polymer materials have further endowed fibers and textiles with various electronic functions, which are attractive in applications such as information interfacing, personalized medicine, and clean energy. Owing to their ability to be easily integrated into daily life, soft fiber electronics based on semiconducting polymers have gained popularity recently for wearable and implantable applications. Herein, we present a review of the previous and current progress in semiconducting polymer-based fiber electronics, particularly focusing on smart-wearable and implantable areas. First, we provide a brief overview of semiconducting polymers from the viewpoint of materials based on the basic concepts and functionality requirements of different devices. Then we analyze the existing applications and associated devices such as information interfaces, healthcare and medicine, and energy conversion and storage. The working principle and performance of semiconducting polymer-based fiber devices are summarized. Furthermore, we focus on the fabrication techniques of fiber devices. Based on the continuous fabrication of one-dimensional fiber and yarn, we introduce two- and three-dimensional fabric fabricating methods. Finally, we review challenges and relevant perspectives and potential solutions to address the related problems.

Self-Healing Polymers for Electronics and Energy Devices

Polymers are extensively exploited as active materials in a variety of electronics and energy devices because of their tailorable electrical properties, mechanical flexibility, facile processability, and they are lightweight. The polymer devices integrated with self-healing ability offer enhanced reliability, durability, and sustainability. In this Review, we provide an update on the major advancements in the applications of self-healing polymers in the devices, including energy devices, electronic components, optoelectronics, and dielectrics. The differences in fundamental mechanisms and healing strategies between mechanical fracture and electrical breakdown of polymers are underlined. The key concepts of self-healing polymer devices for repairing mechanical integrity and restoring their functions and device performance in response to mechanical and electrical damage are outlined. The advantages and limitations of the current approaches to self-healing polymer devices are systematically summarized. Challenges and future research opportunities are highlighted.

Chromism-Integrated Sensors and Devices for Visual Indicators

The bifunctionality of chromism-integrated sensors and devices has been highlighted because of their reversibility, fast response, and visual indication. For example, one of the representative chromism electrochromic materials exhibits optical modulation under ion insertion/extraction by applying a potential. This operation mechanism can be integrated with various sensors (pressure, strain, biomolecules, gas, etc.) and devices (energy conversion/storage systems) as visual indicators for user-friendly operation. In this review, recent advances in the field of chromism-integrated systems for visual indicators are categorized for various chromism-integrated sensors and devices. This review can provide insights for researchers working on chromism, sensors, or devices. The integrated chromic devices are evaluated in terms of coloration-bleach operation, cycling stability, and coloration efficiency. In addition, the existing challenges and prospects for chromism-integrated sensors and devices are summarized for further research.

Tunable Polarized Microcavity Characterized by Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectrum

Tunable resonator is a powerful building block in fields like color filtering and optical sensing. The control of its polarization characteristics can significantly expand the applications. Nevertheless, the methods for resonator dynamic tuning are limited. Here, a magnetically regulated circular polarized resonant microcavity is demonstrated with an ultrathin ferrimagnetic composite metal layer Ta/CoTb. We successfully tuned the cavity resonant frequency and polarization performance. A huge magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) signal (∼3.41%) is observed, and the microcavity valley position shifts 5.41 nm when a small magnetic field is applied. This resonant cavity has two-stable states at 0 T due to the magnetic remanence of CoTb film and can be switched using a tiny magnetic field (∼0.01 T). Our result shows that the ferrimagnetic film-based tunable microcavity can be a highly promising candidate for on-chip magneto-optical (MO) devices.

Self-healable PEDOT-based all-organic films with excellent electrochromic performances

PEDOT-based all-organic films after breaking up can be intrinsically self-healed through thermal stimulation (no more than 130 °C), and maintain excellent electrochromic properties.

Bistable Elastic Electrochromic Ionic Gels for Energy-Saving Displays

The diversification of electrochromic materials greatly expands the application fields of electrochromic devices. However, highly flexible electrochromic materials remain challenging due to the inherent limitations associated with the existing electrochromic processes. Inspired by the hydrogen bonding effect in the hydrogel structure, a highly elastic and bistable electrochromic ionic gel based on a hydrogen bonding cross-linking network is prepared by solution polymerization having excellent tensile resilience, uniform coloring, reversible switching (≤24.3 s), maximum transmittance change (≥80%), bistability (54 h), reversibility (>500 cycles), and coloration efficiency (≥85.3 cm²·C^-1). This method has been used to develop bistable electrochromic displays. The unconventional exploration of the bistable design principle may provide a new idea for the realization of bistable electrochromic devices.

Progress and Roadmap for Intelligent Self-Healing Materials in Autonomous Robotics

Robots are increasingly assisting humans in performing various tasks. Like special agents with elite skills, they can venture to distant locations and adverse environments, such as the deep sea and outer space. Micro/nanobots can also act as intrabody agents for healthcare applications. Self-healing materials that can autonomously perform repair functions are useful to address the unpredictability of the environment and the increasing drive toward the autonomous operation. Having self-healable robotic materials can potentially reduce costs, electronic wastes, and improve a robot endowed with such materials longevity. This review aims to serve as a roadmap driven by past advances and inspire future cross-disciplinary research in robotic materials and electronics. By first charting the history of self-healing materials, new avenues are provided to classify the various self-healing materials proposed over several decades. The materials and strategies for self-healing in robotics and stretchable electronics are also reviewed and discussed. It is believed that this article encourages further innovation in this exciting and emerging branch in robotics interfacing with material science and electronics.

Photoluminescent and Chromic Nanomaterials for Anticounterfeiting Technologies: Recent Advances and Future Challenges

Counterfeiting and inverse engineering of security and confidential documents, such as banknotes, passports, national cards, certificates, and valuable products, has significantly been increased, which is a major challenge for governments, companies, and customers. From recent global reports published in 2017, the counterfeiting market was evaluated to be $107.26 billion in 2016 and forecasted to reach $206.57 billion by 2021 at a compound annual growth rate of 14.0%. Development of anticounterfeiting and authentication technologies with multilevel securities is a powerful solution to overcome this challenge. Stimuli-chromic (photochromic, hydrochromic, and thermochromic) and photoluminescent (fluorescent and phosphorescent) compounds are the most significant and applicable materials for development of complex anticounterfeiting inks with a high-security level and fast authentication. Highly efficient anticounterfeiting and authentication technologies have been developed to reach high security and efficiency. Applicable materials for anticounterfeiting applications are generally based on photochromic and photoluminescent compounds, for which hydrochromic and thermochromic materials have extensively been used in recent decades. A wide range of materials, such as organic and inorganic metal complexes, polymer nanoparticles, quantum dots, polymer dots, carbon dots, upconverting nanoparticles, and supramolecular structures, could display all of these phenomena depending on their physical and chemical characteristics. The polymeric anticounterfeiting inks have recently received significant attention because of their high stability for printing on confidential documents. In addition, the printing technologies including hand-writing, stamping, inkjet printing, screen printing, and anticounterfeiting labels are discussed for introduction of the most efficient methods for application of different anticounterfeiting inks. This review would help scientists to design and develop the most applicable encryption, authentication, and anticounterfeiting technologies with high security, fast detection, and potential applications in security marking and information encryption on various substrates.

Bioinspired Color-Changeable Organogel Tactile Sensor with Excellent Overall Performance

Inspired by chameleons' structural color regulation capability, a simple, but effective, swelling method is proposed for the first time to prepare an ionic polyacrylamide (PAAm) organogel for simultaneous tactile sensing and interactive color changing. The PAAm organogel obtained by swelling the PAAm scaffold in the dimethyl sulfoxide solution of organic electrochromic material (OECM) shows an extremely large stretchability with an elongation of 1600%, a supersoftness with a compressive modulus of 7.2 kPa, an excellent transmittance up to 90%, and a very fast response time of 0.5 s combined with the characteristic of interactive color changing. The PAAm organogel also suggests a universal design ability to tailor coloration spectra for tactile sensors via simply changing the type and content of OECM. The tactile sensor based on a PAAm organogel is capable of serving as a wearable device for precisely tracing human body motion performance and directly visualizing the stress distribution via interactive color changing capability. It is demonstrated that the swelling method proposed here is a simple and practical strategy to prepare ionic organogels with both piezo-resistive and electrochromic effects.

Colorless-to-Black Electrochromism from Binary Electrochromes toward Multifunctional Displays

Cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic diimide with a nonconjugated core has been incorporated to bridge two conventional triphenylamine units. The obtained monomer has successfully hypsochromically shifted the maximum absorption wavelength by 10 nm in comparison to the one with a pyromellitic diimide bridge. Consequently, a colorless electrochromic (EC) polymer poly(bis(N,N-diphenyl-4-aminophenyl)cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic diimide) (PTPA-HDI) was electropolymerized on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass. The morphology, absorption, and spectroelectrochemistry properties of polymer PTPA-HDI films electropolymerized by different scan cycles have been systematically investigated. It is found that comprehensive properties, such as color contrast and initial transparence, can be achieved for the polymer film electropolymerized by 15 scan cycles. Moreover, to realize colorless-to-black electrochromism, an asymmetric viologen derivative 1-(4-cyanophenyl)-1'-hexyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dihexafluorophosphate (HVCN) has been designed and straightforward synthesized. With the introduction of a cyanophenyl group and a hexyl chain on the two pyridinium units, colorless-to-green electrochromism can be realized for this processible viologen derivative. The absorption band at 495 nm of colorated PTPA-HDI compensates well for the valley in the absorption spectrum of colorated HVCN. Therefore, different types of colorless-to-black electrochromic devices (ECDs) are fabricated using polymer PTPA-HDI-deposited ITO electrode and HVCN-based gel electrolyte. Such a supporting electrolyte-free ECD with binary electrochromes exhibits fast coloration, high color contrast, and excellent reversibility. Furthermore, an encryption ECD is demonstrated by switching a black two-dimensional code. In addition, an autodigital display is integrated on a smart window and hence different functions can be realized in a single ECD. Overall, this study may facilitate the understanding of the EC behaviors of binary electrochromes and present a new path to design multifunctional displays.

Bioinspired structural color nanocomposites with healable capability

This minireview summarizes the recent development of healable structural color nanocomposites from the perspective of the construction strategies.

Advances in nanomaterials for electrochromic devices

This review article systematically highlights the recent advances regarding the design, preparation, performance and application of new and unique nanomaterials for electrochromic devices.

Modulating the Structural Orientation of Nanocellulose Composites through Mechano-Stimuli

It is of great interest to dynamically manipulate the optical property by controlling nanostructures under external stimuli. In this work, chiral photonic cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and elastic polyurethane (PU) composite films demonstrate reversible optical tunability arising from structural transition between the chiral nematic and layered pseudonematic order. The composite films exhibit impressive water resistance and mechanical adaptability. Reversible modulation of the optical property of the composite CNC/PU film is enabled during mechanical stretching and water absorption. Film stretching is accompanied by CNC transition from a chiral nematic to layered pseudonematic structure. After fixation, shape recovery takes place when exposed to water, and the CNC structure reverts to the initial chiral nematic order. These reversibly switchable shape and optical properties further advance the study and design of smart optical and mechanical sensors.

Self-Rechargeable-Battery-Driven Device for Simultaneous Electrochromic Windows, ROS Biosensing, and Energy Storage

A self-powered electrochromic device (ECD) powered by a self-rechargeable battery is easily fabricated to achieve electrochromic window design, quantitative reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensing, and energy storage. The special design of the battery was composed of Prussian blue (PB) and magnesium metal as the cathode and anode, respectively, which exhibits fast self-charging and high power-density output for continuous and stable energy supply. Benefitting from the fast electrochromic response of PB, it was not only used for structuring self-rechargeable batteries but also used as an electrochromic display for highly sensitive self-powered ROS sensing and visual analysis. We believe that this work provides a solution to self-powered ECDs limited to a single application and could combine the applications in smart windows, ROS sensing, and other fields together, and in the meantime provide a solution for energy supply problems.

Facile Fabrication of Self-Healable and Antibacterial Soy Protein-Based Films with High Mechanical Strength

Soy protein isolate (SPI), a ubiquitous and readily available biopolymer, has drawn increasing attention because of its sustainability, abundance, and low price. However, the poor mechanical properties, tedious performance adjustments, irreversible damage, and weak microorganism resistance have limited its applications. In this study, a facile but delicate strategy is proposed to fabricate an excellently self-healable and remarkably antibacterial SPI-based material with high mechanical strength by integrating polyethyleneimine (PEI) and metal ions (Cu(II) or Zn(II)). The tensile strengths of the SPI/PEI-Cu-0.750 and SPI/PEI-Zn-0.750 films reach up to 10.46 ± 0.50 and 9.06 ± 0.62 MPa, which is 367.06 and 306.28% strength increase compared to that of neat SPI film, respectively. Due to abundant non-covalent bonds and low glass transition temperature of the network, both SPI/PEI-Cu and SPI/PEI-Zn films exhibit a satisfactory self-healing behavior even at room temperature. Furthermore, SPI/PEI-Cu and SPI/PEI-Zn films demonstrate high bacterial resistance against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This facile strategy of establishing dynamic networks in a biomaterial with numerous excellent properties will enormously expand the scope of its applications, especially in the field of recyclable and durable materials.