This book presents a design-driven investigation into smart materials developed by chemists, physicists, materials and chemical engineers, and applied by designers to consumer products. Introducing a class of smart materials, that change colors, the book presents their characteristics, advantages, potentialities and difficulties of applications of this to help understanding what they are, how they work, how they are applied. The books also present a number of case studies: products, projects, concepts and experiments using smart materials, thus mapping out new design territories for these innovative materials. These case studies involve different fields of design, including product, interior, fashion and communication design. Within the context of rising sustainable and human-centered design agendas, the series will demonstrate the role and influence of these new materials and technologies on design, and discuss how they can implement and redefine our objects and spaces to encourage more resilient environments.

Electrochromic materials can change their properties under the influence of an electrical voltage or current. Different classes of materials show this behavior such as transition metal oxides, conjugated polymers, metal-coordinated complexes and organic molecules. As the color change is persistent, the electric field needs only to be applied to initiate the switching, allowing for applications such as low-energy consumption displays, light-adapting mirrors in the automobile industry and smart windows for which the amount of transmitted light and heat can be controlled. The first part of this book describes the different classes and processing techniques of electrochromic materials. The second part highlights nanostructured electrochromic materials and device fabrication, and the third part focuses on the applications such as smart windows, adaptive camouflage, biomimicry, wearable displays and fashion. The last part rounds off the book by device case studies and environmental impact issues.

Edited by well-known pioneers in the field, this handbook and ready reference provides a comprehensive overview of transparent conductive materials with a strong application focus. Following an introduction to the materials and recent developments, subsequent chapters discuss the synthesis and characterization as well as the deposition techniques that are commonly used for energy harvesting and light emitting applications. Finally, the book concludes with a look at future technological advances. All-encompassing and up-to-date, this interdisciplinary text runs the gamut from chemistry and materials science to engineering, from academia to industry, and from fundamental challenges to readily available applications.

Electrochromic materials are able to change their optical properties in a persistent and reversible way under the action of a voltage pulse. This book explores electrochromism among the metal oxides, with detailed discussions of materials preparation (primarily by thin film technology), materials characterization by (electro)chemical and physical techniques, optical properties, electrochromic device design, and device performance. The vast quantity of information presented is structured in a systematic manner and the optical data is interpreted within a novel conceptual framework.The publication will serve as a comprehensive foundation and reference work for future studies within the rapidly expanding field of electrochromic materials and devices. These devices are of particular interest for information displays, variable-transmittance (smart) windows, variable-reflectance mirrors and variable-emittance surfaces.

Electrochromic materials can change their properties under the influence of an electrical voltage or current. Different classes of materials show this behavior such as transition metal oxides, conjugated polymers, metal-coordinated complexes and organic molecules. As the color change is persistent, the electric field needs only to be applied to initiate the switching, allowing for applications such as low-energy consumption displays, light-adapting mirrors in the automobile industry and smart windows for which the amount of transmitted light and heat can be controlled. The first part of this book describes the different classes and processing techniques of electrochromic materials. The second part highlights nanostructured electrochromic materials and device fabrication, and the third part focuses on the applications such as smart windows, adaptive camouflage, biomimicry, wearable displays and fashion. The last part rounds off the book by device case studies and environmental impact issues.

The phase transition and the reversible optical and electrical switching that occur in chromogenic materials under the influence of external forces such as heat, light, and electric field are topics of enormous scientific interest. Transition Metal Oxide Thin Film–Based Chromogenics and Devices discusses experimental and theoretical developments in the field of chromogenics based on the transition metal oxide (TMO) thin films. Understanding the relationship between the switching properties of TMO materials and their nanostructure is of paramount importance in developing efficient chromogenic devices. The tailoring of these switching behaviors is afforded detailed coverage in this book, alongside in-depth discussion of a range of chromogenic materials and devices, including photochromics, thermochromics, and electrochromics. Transition Metal Oxide Thin Film–Based Chromogenics and Devices covers both the theoretical aspects of TMO thin film–based chromogenics and their engineering applications in device construction. Academics and professionals in the fields of materials science and optics will find this book to be a key resource, whether their focus is low-dimension materials, light-materials interactions, or device development. - Enables researchers to keep up with developments in thin film–based chromogenics - Provides detailed coverage of the switching mechanism of the various TMO thin films to assist readers in developing more efficient devices - Offers in-depth discussion of a range of chromogenic materials and devices, including thermochromics, photochromics, and electrochromics

This book presents a design-driven investigation into smart materials developed by chemists, physicists, materials and chemical engineers, and applied by designers to consumer products, buildings, interfaces, or textiles. Introducing a class of smart materials (referred to as stimuli-responsive, morphing or kinetic materials) that move and change their shape in response to stimuli, the book presents their characteristics, advantages, potentials, as well as the difficulties involved in their application. The book also presents a large number of case studies on products, projects, concepts, and experiments employing smart materials, thus mapping out new design territories for these innovative materials. The case studies involve different fields of design, including product, interior, fashion, and communication design. Reflecting the growing demand for sustainable and human-centered design agendas, the book explores and reveals the role and influence of these new materials and technologies on design and human experience, and discusses how they can be used to redefine our objects and spaces so as to promote more resilient environments. The book offers an intriguing and valuable resource for design professionals, engineers, scientists and students alike.