Switchable silver mirrors with long memory effects.

An electrochemically stable and bistable switchable mirror was achieved for the first time by introducing (1) a thiol-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode for the stabilization of the metallic film and (2) ionic liquids as an anion-blocking layer, to achieve a long memory effect. The growth of the metallic film was denser and faster at the thiol-modified ITO electrode than at a bare ITO electrode. The electrochemical stability of the metallic film on the thiol-modified ITO was enhanced, maintaining the metallic state without rupture. In the voltage-off state, the metal film maintained bistability for a long period (>2 h) when ionic liquids were introduced as electrolytes for the switchable mirror. The electrical double layer in the highly viscous ionic liquid electrolyte seemed to effectively form a barrier to the bromide ions, to protect the metal thin film from them when in the voltage-off state.

Electrochemical fluorescence switching from a patternable poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) thin film.

A highly soluble poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) (POD) substituted with long alkyl chains was examined for electrochemical fluorescence switching. The high solubility of the polymers enabled a simple fabrication of an electrochemical cell, which showed reversible fluorescence switching between dark (n-doping) and bright (neutral) states with a maximum on/off ratio of 2.5 and a cyclability longer than 1000 cycles. Photochemical cleavage of the oxadiazole in POD allowed photo-patterning of the POD film upon exposure to UV source. The patterned POD films displayed patterned image reversibly under a step potential of +1.8/-1.8 V.

3D image recording on photopolymer films containing molecular composites of a new s-triazine monomer and acrylate monomer by dual photopolymerization.

Three dimensional (3D) image recording on photopolymer film was explored using a mixture of s-triazine diepoxy (SEP) and ethylene glycol phenyl ether acrylate (PA) as a monomer to induce cationic and radical polymerization during the holographic recording. The photopolymer films were sensitive to a visible light source and polymerized upon excitation with a visible laser. 3D image was recorded on the photopolymer film by holographic recording using a 491 nm laser. The film containing a molecular composite of SEP and PA showed high diffraction efficiency via dual photo polymerization. Within 10 min of recording the image formation was vivid. In this way 3D screw and a letter image with large viewing angle were obtained onto the photopolymer film. The images were stable for longer than 3 month at RT and 5 hr at 85 degrees C, when read by a visible light.