Inkjet Printing Bio‐Inspired Electrochromic Pixels

In this report the design, fabrication, and testing of inkjet-printed electrochromic pixels (ECPs) incorporating biochrome, xanthommatin (Xa) as programmable display units is described. As a redox sensitive chromophore, Xa present in some species physiological indicator with red (reduced) or yellow (oxidized) colors associated different behavioral developmental stages. These features have been recently leveraged materials applications, illustrating bio-inspired design solution to color-changing sensors displays. This paper describes an extension these applications print individually addressable ECPs that can be processed mild annealing step introduce localized conductivity on initially nonconductive substrates. When formulated together poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) carrier ink, addition 0.19 wt% enough generate dynamic which batch printed lateral electrodes any substrate serve both conductors across electrically isolated boundaries. Application low potentials triggers reversible color changes span red/yellow space cycle for days. results represent important towards incorporation alternative active like manufacture scale low-power, patterns.