Highly integrated all-in-one electrochromic fabrics for unmanned environmental adaptive camouflage

Abstract

Electrochromic fabrics (ECFs) have demonstrated great potential in developing wearable products for applications in wearable displays and adaptive camouflage. Nonetheless, the lack of device integration usually makes ECFs not as flexible and lightweight as regular textiles. Herein, we developed a highly integrated all-in-one ECF by assembling all the essential components into a piece of nylon fabric. The configuration is based on EC-active polyaniline, Au reflector electrode and alumina counter electrode coating on both sides, and a gel electrolyte filling into the fabric. As a result, the all-in-one ECF has an ultrathin thickness of only 80 μm, which offers flexibility superior to that of conventional ECFs. Stemming from the optical modulation between top PANI coating and a bottom Au reflector, the all-in-one ECF could deliver color switches between yellow and green, which are two typical environmental camouflage colors. It also demonstrates thermal management based on IR modulation behavior. Moreover, the dual-band optical modulation has excellent stability in response to mechanical bending, twisting, and tailoring. Considering excellent wearability and active optical modulation, the all-in-one ECF was further developed into an unmanned environmental adaptive camouflage prototype system by integrating with sensing and control modules, which exhibit fast color blending with dynamic environment background. The construction strategy of highly integrated ECFs proposed in this work could equally well apply to other EC-active materials and anticipated to provide new insights into developing high-performance intelligent applications, such as wearable displays and military camouflage clothing.