Chameleon Optics was founded on March 10, 1998 in Philadelphia, PA, for the purpose of developing unique devices based on proprietary chromogenic (color-changing) coatings. The company is a resident organization of the University City Science Center, one of the largest and most successful business incubators in the world. Chameleon Optics has patented technology to produce reflective flexible electrochromic devices based on electrochromic tungsten oxide particles dispersed in a fluoropolymer matrix. These devices are much less costly and easier to manufacture than their rigid counterparts. However, like their rigid counterparts, these flexible electrochromic devises exhibit inadequate switching speed, spectral response and switching potential to be commercially attractive. The objective of this Phase I effort will be to demonstrate a flexible electrochromic device with substantially improved properties through the control of the size and shape of the electrochromic tungsten oxide particle imbedded within the polymer matrix. Pursuant to the above objective, we propose to (1) formulate a material system utilizing particle size and shape control, with special emphasis on generating nanoparticles; (2) characterize this new system structurally; and (3) test the resulting device for improvement in switching speed, spectral response and switching potential
