Despite a long history as an observed phenomenon, the application of electrochromism in commercially successful electrochromic, (EC), devices, with one exception [1,2], has had a tortuous history. EC systems seem to be in good company regarding commercial challenges with other dynamic and switchable phenomena like photochromics, thermochromics, suspended particle devices and polymer dispersed liquid crystals. These have a similar long history with limited commercial success, other than a few exceptions. WHY?

Some of the multitude of details that must be addressed to realize commercial success will be discussed. The keys to commercial success for virtually all commercial products are performance, durability and cost.

For many years the performance of EC devices has been considered somewhere between pretty good and excellent. For many years inadequate durability for most EC devices systems was a huge obstacle to success. However, at least for some EC systems, durability is no longer the limiting factor. Today, probably the biggest remaining challenge for many applications of EC devices is cost relative to alternate products. Yet there is hope that there will be enough volume to drive down costs and allow more EC devices to make it over the “increasing volume with lowering prices” hump and thus on to widespread commercial use. Demand for commercial EC type products is still widespread, so what does the future hold?
 

The last 100+ years of EC device commercialization and why it is so hard to succeed