Articles comprises iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains, wherein the chains of nanocrystals are embedded within a material used to form the article or a transfer medium used to transfer a color to the article are described. The material or transfer medium includes elastic properties that allow the nanocrystals to display a temporary color determined by the strength of an external force applied to the article, and the material or transfer medium includes memory properties that cause the displayed temporary color to dissipate when the external force is removed, wherein the dissipation of the displayed temporary color is sufficiently slow as to be visually observable by an average observer's unaided eye.

Articles comprises iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains, wherein the chains of nanocrystals are embedded within a material used to form the article or a transfer medium used to transfer a color to the article are described. The material or transfer medium includes elastic properties that allow the nanocrystals to display a temporary color determined by the strength of an external force applied to the article, and the material or transfer medium includes memory properties that cause the displayed temporary color to dissipate when the external force is removed, wherein the dissipation of the displayed temporary color is sufficiently slow as to be visually observable by an average observer's unaided eye.

The present disclosure provides for UV-responsive laminates including a first layer having a photochromatic pigment arranged as a pigment texture, or one or more photochromatic indicators, or combinations thereof. The photochromatic pigment may be disposed on the laminate during laminate fabrication, prior to installation of the laminate, or in-situ, subsequent to installation. The photochromatic pigment is configured to change from a first state to a second state in response to exposure to an ultraviolet (UV) light source, the first state is invisible to a naked eye under ambient lighting and the second state is visible to the naked eye under ambient lighting. The UV-responsive laminates may further include additional layers, such as a second layer which may be a coupling layer configured to removably couple the laminate to a component. Additional layers, such as a protective layer or a backing layer, may be included in the UV-responsive laminate as well.

The present disclosure provides for UV-responsive laminates including a first layer having a photochromatic pigment arranged as a pigment texture, or one or more photochromatic indicators, or combinations thereof. The photochromatic pigment may be disposed on the laminate during laminate fabrication, prior to installation of the laminate, or in-situ, subsequent to installation. The photochromatic pigment is configured to change from a first state to a second state in response to exposure to an ultraviolet (UV) light source, the first state is invisible to a naked eye under ambient lighting and the second state is visible to the naked eye under ambient lighting. The UV-responsive laminates may further include additional layers, such as a second layer which may be a coupling layer configured to removably couple the laminate to a component. Additional layers, such as a protective layer or a backing layer, may be included in the UV-responsive laminate as well.

An electrochromic (EC) device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode separated by an electrolyte. The first electrode comprises an electrochromic (EC) layer comprising a compound having the formula A.sub.iB.sub.jO.sub.k, where A comprises one or more elements selected from a group consisting of W, Mn, Mo, Co, Ni, Cs, and Zn, where B is different than A and comprises one or more elements selected from a group consisting of Mo, Ti, Nb, and V, where i and j have values that are greater than 0, and where k is a stoichiometric value that balances the formula. A is selected such that the EC layer has an improved optical contrast relative to B.sub.jO.sub.k and B is selected such that the EC layer has an improved specific charge capacity relative to A.sub.iO.sub.k.

A method for indicating a sanitation status of a surface may comprise contacting a coating on a surface with a cleaning composition, wherein the coating comprises a chromic material and exhibits a baseline optical state under illumination with light having a first wavelength prior to contact with the cleaning composition and an altered optical state under illumination with light having a second wavelength after contact with the cleaning composition, the cleaning composition configured to induce a switch from the baseline optical state to the altered optical state; and illuminating the coating with the first wavelength of light, the second wavelength of light, or both, to reveal a sanitation status of the surface. Systems for indicating a sanitation status of a surface are also provided.

Electrochromic windows powered by wireless power transmission and powering other devices by wireless power transmission are described along with wireless power transmission networks that incorporate these electrochromic windows.

Provided is a nanoparticle for photochromic materials that enables the production of photochromic materials in which the reaction time of a photochromic reaction is short.

The nanoparticle for photochromic materials is represented by the following formula (1):

ZnX   (1), wherein X represents a Group 16 element, the nanoparticle being doped with and/or having, adsorbed thereto, a transition metal, the nanoparticle having organic ligands containing elemental sulfur on the surface thereof.

The present invention provides: a curable composition which contains a bismuth compound, wherein a phosphoric acid ester having a (meth)acryloyl group is bonded to bismuth, and a nitrile compound having a radically polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond; a cured body which is obtained by curing this curable composition; a multilayer body which is composed of the above-described cured body and a cured body that is obtained by curing a photochromic curable composition; and a radiation protective material which is formed of the above-described cured body or the above-described multilayer body.

The present invention provides: a curable composition which contains a bismuth compound, wherein a phosphoric acid ester having a (meth)acryloyl group is bonded to bismuth, and a nitrile compound having a radically polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond; a cured body which is obtained by curing this curable composition; a multilayer body which is composed of the above-described cured body and a cured body that is obtained by curing a photochromic curable composition; and a radiation protective material which is formed of the above-described cured body or the above-described multilayer body.