All-solid-state electrochromic thin films for optical iris application

We have successfully developed an all-solid-state electrochromic device (ECD) as the optical iris for a camera lens application. The all-solid-state ECD could potentially control the transmittance from 88.5% to 6.5% at 633nm. The patterned electrochromic solid state device with the one substrate structure of NiO/Ta₂O₅/WO₃ on ITO coated glass was prepared at room temperature by reactive DC magnetron sputtering technique and shadow mask method. With the application of ECDs, it is possible to directly attach the electrochromic optical iris onto a camera lens without any mechanical equipment. Furthermore, the low power consumption of 16.75mW per switching cycle at voltages as low as 5.5 V, make ECDs the ideal components for battery powered mobile applications.