Enhanced electrochromic switching contrast in the blue by 3,4-propylenedioxypyrrole – implementation on structural colors

Recent advances in nanofabrication technologies have enabled new ways to produce structural colors. By combining nanofabrication methods, it is possible to integrate electrochromic materials with the nanostructures, which enable electrical tuning of the colors and thus new types of reflective displays. Previous work has shown high quality colors and high switching contrast in general. However, so far the intensity modulation has always been more limited in the blue. In this work we prepare blue structural colors and synthesize films of an electrochromic polymer (PProDOP) that is optimized for high contrast in this spectral region. A protocol for electropolymerization of PProDOP on gold surfaces is presented. The polymer films are shown to follow Lambert–Beer behavior and can provide up to 75% contrast (difference in transmittivity). On blue nanostructures, the reflectivity can be modulated with a contrast of 50%, which is a considerable improvement in comparison with previous work. The results presented here should be useful for electrochromic or other electro-optical devices operating in the blue spectral region.