Multi-spectrum compatible electrochromic device combining microwave transmission with ultra-wide emissivity modulation

The potential of polyaniline (PANI)-based electrochromic devices (ECDs) to offer adaptive anti-surveillance stealth in the visible/infrared bands is considerable. However, the incompatibility between infrared and radar stealth renders it challenging to achieve compatibility between the two with PANI-based ECDs. In this work, an etched electrode with frequency-selective surface configurations is initially designed for selective transmission and reflection of microwaves. Subsequently, a stellate PANI is prepared on the electrode surface by introducing triphenylamine (TPA) modification into the long molecular chain of disordered PANI, and assembled into a multi-spectrum compatible ECD. The results demonstrate that the ECD can achieve efficient transmission between 10.2–13.9 GHz, with a transmission rate approaching 90 % at 11.92 GHz, and enables the visible characteristics to switch between jungle dark green and desert earthy yellow. Furthermore, thermal-infrared emissivity ( ε ) modulation is achieved in the atmospheric transmission windows of 3–5 μm and 8–14 μm, with maximum emissivity change (Δ ε ) of 0.61 and 0.73, respectively. The ECD demonstrated the capacity to exceed the limitations of static camouflage associated with existing multi-spectrum stealth materials, and exhibited a high degree of adaptability in intelligent electromagnetic confrontation environments.