Far-IR transparency and dynamic infrared signature control with novel conducting-polymer systems

Prasanna Chandrasekhar; T. J. Dooley

doi:10.1117/12.219540

15 September 1995 Far-IR transparency and dynamic infrared signature control with novel conducting polymer systems

Prasanna Chandrasekhar, T. J. Dooley

Proceedings Volume 2528, Optical and Photonic Applications of Electroactive and Conducting Polymers; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.219540
Event: SPIE's 1995 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1995, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Materials which possess transparency, coupled with active controllability of this transparency in the infrared (IR), are today an increasingly important requirement, for varied applications. These applications include windows for IR sensors, IR-region flat panel displays used in camouflage as well as in communication and sight through night-vision goggles, coatings with dynamically controllable IR-emissivity, and thermal conservation coatings. Among stringent requirements for these applications are large dynamic ranges (color contrast), 'multi-color' or broad-band characteristics, extended cyclability, long memory retention, matrix addressability, small area fabricability, low power consumption, and environmental stability. Among materials possessing the requirements for variation of IR signature, conducting polymers (CPs) appear to be the only materials with dynamic, actively controllable signature and acceptable dynamic range. Conventional CPs such as poly(alkyl thiophene), poly(pyrrole) or poly(aniline) show very limited dynamic range, especially in the far-IR, while also showing poor transparency. We have developed a number of novel CP systems ('system' implying the CP, the selected dopant, the synthesis method, and the electrolyte) with very wide dynamic range (up to 90% in both important IR regions, 3 - 5 (mu) and 8 - 12 (mu) ), high cyclability (to 10⁵ cycles with less than 10% optical degradation), nearly indefinite optical memory retention, matrix addressability of multi-pixel displays, very wide operating temperature and excellent environmental stability, low charge capacity, and processability into areas from less than 1 mm² to more than 100 cm². The criteria used to design and arrive at these CP systems, together with representative IR signature data, are presented in this paper.

Citation Download Citation

Prasanna Chandrasekhar and T. J. Dooley "Far-IR transparency and dynamic infrared signature control with novel conducting polymer systems", Proc. SPIE 2528, Optical and Photonic Applications of Electroactive and Conducting Polymers, (15 September 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.219540

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