The present invention is directed to a curable photochromic composition including (a) a photochromic compound; (b) a segmented polymer having active hydrogen groups, at least one first segment, and at least one second segment, wherein (i) each first segment independently includes a fluorinated polymer segment, and (ii) each second segment independently includes a segment selected from a polycarbonate segment, a polyester segment, a polyether segment, a polyurethane segment, and a segment of copolymers thereof; and (c) a curing agent having reactive functional groups that are reactive with the active hydrogen groups of the segmented polymer, wherein the curing agent includes at least one of a polyisocyanate, a polyisothiocyanate, or an aminoplast. Also provided are photochromic films and articles, including multilayer articles, which include the curable photochromic composition.

The present invention is directed to a curable photochromic composition including (a) a photochromic compound; (b) a segmented polymer having active hydrogen groups, at least one first segment, and at least one second segment, wherein (i) each first segment independently includes a fluorinated polymer segment, and (ii) each second segment independently includes a segment selected from a polycarbonate segment, a polyester segment, a polyether segment, a polyurethane segment, and a segment of copolymers thereof; and (c) a curing agent having reactive functional groups that are reactive with the active hydrogen groups of the segmented polymer, wherein the curing agent includes at least one of a polyisocyanate, a polyisothiocyanate, or an aminoplast. Also provided are photochromic films and articles, including multilayer articles, which include the curable photochromic composition.

The present invention provides an optical composition from which an optical article having reduced poor appearance such as cloudiness and optical strain during lens base material production can be obtained, and when a photochromic compound is added, a photochromic cured body having excellent photochromism and mechanical strength can also be formed, and a polyrotaxane used therefor. The polyrotaxane has a composite molecular structure formed of an axle molecule and a plurality of cyclic molecules clathrating the axle molecule, satisfying at least one of (X) and (Y). (X): A side chain having a secondary or tertiary hydroxyl group is introduced into at least part of the cyclic molecule of the polyrotaxane. (Y): A side chain having a group represented by -A (A is an organic group, and contains at least one hydroxyl group) is introduced into at least part of the cyclic molecule of the polyrotaxane, and a pKa of the hydroxyl group of the compound represented by H-A is 6 or more and less than 14.

The present invention provides an optical composition from which an optical article having reduced poor appearance such as cloudiness and optical strain during lens base material production can be obtained, and when a photochromic compound is added, a photochromic cured body having excellent photochromism and mechanical strength can also be formed, and a polyrotaxane used therefor. The polyrotaxane has a composite molecular structure formed of an axle molecule and a plurality of cyclic molecules clathrating the axle molecule, satisfying at least one of (X) and (Y). (X): A side chain having a secondary or tertiary hydroxyl group is introduced into at least part of the cyclic molecule of the polyrotaxane. (Y): A side chain having a group represented by -A (A is an organic group, and contains at least one hydroxyl group) is introduced into at least part of the cyclic molecule of the polyrotaxane, and a pKa of the hydroxyl group of the compound represented by H-A is 6 or more and less than 14.

Described herein are electrochemical cells that include composite gel positioned between the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the composite gel comprises an electrolyte, a polyaryl amine, and an oxidant. The composite gels described herein are easy to produce at a low-cost, which makes them suitable in a number of different applications electrochromic devices, supercapacitors, solar cells, and hybrid photoactive supercapacitors.

Described herein are electrochemical cells that include composite gel positioned between the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the composite gel comprises an electrolyte, a polyaryl amine, and an oxidant. The composite gels described herein are easy to produce at a low-cost, which makes them suitable in a number of different applications electrochromic devices, supercapacitors, solar cells, and hybrid photoactive supercapacitors.

Biologically-inspired compositions, including color changing compositions, and corresponding embodiments such as sensors, textile materials, coatings and films, are provided which typically include a solid, transparent and nondegradable matrix. The matrix contains a plurality of (i) synthetic particles having a size in the micrometer or nanometer range, each synthetic particle including one or more aggregates of a pigment selected from phenoxazone, phenoxazine, and a derivate or precursor thereof, and a stabilizing material which has a refractive index larger than 1.45, the aggregates having a size larger than about 100 nm; or (ii) submicrometer natural particles extracted and purified from homogenized tissue.

Biologically-inspired compositions, including color changing compositions, and corresponding embodiments such as sensors, textile materials, coatings and films, are provided which typically include a solid, transparent and nondegradable matrix. The matrix contains a plurality of (i) synthetic particles having a size in the micrometer or nanometer range, each synthetic particle including one or more aggregates of a pigment selected from phenoxazone, phenoxazine, and a derivate or precursor thereof, and a stabilizing material which has a refractive index larger than 1.45, the aggregates having a size larger than about 100 nm; or (ii) submicrometer natural particles extracted and purified from homogenized tissue.

The present invention relates to design and applications of a class of water-soluble small molecules represented by Formula 1. In aqueous solutions the said molecules exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition near room temperature, imparting a temperature triggered switching of transparency stages. Further, it discloses a solution comprising Formula 1 and a scalable smart radiative energy management system that takes form of a dynamic window, wherein the aqueous solution is sandwiched between two transparent glass panes to enable modulation of light and heat transmission. With simple and economical starting materials, the dynamic windows of present invention represent leaps towards creating a niche technology with multifarious applications in developing scalable, smart energy management systems for indoor building environments.

The present invention relates to design and applications of a class of water-soluble small molecules represented by Formula 1. In aqueous solutions the said molecules exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition near room temperature, imparting a temperature triggered switching of transparency stages. Further, it discloses a solution comprising Formula 1 and a scalable smart radiative energy management system that takes form of a dynamic window, wherein the aqueous solution is sandwiched between two transparent glass panes to enable modulation of light and heat transmission. With simple and economical starting materials, the dynamic windows of present invention represent leaps towards creating a niche technology with multifarious applications in developing scalable, smart energy management systems for indoor building environments.