A Brief Overview of Electrochromic Materials and Related Devices: A Nanostructured Materials Perspective.

Exactly 50 years ago, the first article on electrochromism was published. Today electrochromic materials are highly popular in various devices. Interest in nanostructured electrochromic and nanocomposite organic/inorganic nanostructured electrochromic materials has increased in the last decade. These materials can enhance the electrochemical and electrochromic properties of devices related to them. This article describes electrochromic materials, proposes their classification and systematization for organic inorganic and nanostructured electrochromic materials, identifies their advantages and shortcomings, analyzes current tendencies in the development of nanomaterials used in electrochromic coatings (films) and their practical use in various optical devices for protection from light radiation, in particular, their use as light filters and light modulators for optoelectronic devices, as well as methods for their preparation. The modern technologies of "Smart Windows", which are based on chromogenic materials and liquid crystals, are analyzed, and their advantages and disadvantages are also given. Various types of chromogenic materials are presented, examples of which include photochromic, thermochromic and gasochromic materials, as well as the main physical effects affecting changes in their optical properties. Additionally, this study describes electrochromic technologies based on WO3 films prepared by different methods, such as electrochemical deposition, magnetron sputtering, spray pyrolysis, sol-gel, etc. An example of an electrochromic "Smart Window" based on WO3 is shown in the article. A modern analysis of electrochromic devices based on nanostructured materials used in various applications is presented. The paper discusses the causes of internal and external size effects in the process of modifying WO3 electrochromic films using nanomaterials, in particular, GO/rGO nanomaterials.

Multistage Mechanical Activation of Multilayer Carbon Nanotubes in Creation of Electric Heaters with Self-Regulating Temperature.

The article deals with research related to the issues of nanomodification of elastomers as a basis of electric heaters with self-regulating temperature. The effect of multistage mechanical activation of multilayer carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) with graphite on the uniformity of the temperature field distribution on the surface of nanomodified organosilicon elastomer has been studied. The influence of the stages of mechanical action on the parameters of MCNTs is revealed. It has been ascertained that for the MCNTs/graphite bulk material, which has passed the stage of mechanical activation in the vortex layer apparatus, a more uniform distribution of the temperature field and an increase in temperature to 57.1 °C at the supply voltage of 100 V are typical. The distribution of the temperature field in the centrifugal paddle mixer "WF-20B" for mixing MCNTs with graphite has been investigated. It has been found that there is also a thermal effect in addition to the mechanical action on the MCNTs in the paddle mixer "WF-20B". The thermal effect is associated with the transfer of the mechanical energy of friction of the binary mixture MCNTs/graphite on the paddle and the walls of the vessel. The multiplicity of the starting current Ip to the nominal In (Ip/In) is 5 for the first sample, 7.5 for the second sample, and 10 for the third sample at the supply voltage of 100 V. The effect of reducing the starting current and stabilizing the temperature indicates the presence of self-regulation, which is expressed in maintaining a certain level of temperature.