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Wu et al. Soft Sci 2024;4:29 Soft Science
DOI: 10.20517/ss.2024.21

Review Article Open Access

Flexible and stretchable electrochromic displays:

strategies, recent advances, and prospects

Wenting Wu, Pooi See Lee *
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.

* Correspondence to: Prof. Pooi See Lee, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50
Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. E-mail: pslee@ntu.edu.sg

How to cite this article: Wu W, Lee PS. Flexible and stretchable electrochromic displays: strategies, recent advances, and
prospects. Soft Sci 2024;4:29. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ss.2024.21

Received: 24 May 2024 First Decision: 4 Jul 2024 Revised: 15 Jul 2024 Accepted: 24 Jul 2024 Published: 13 Aug 2024

Academic Editor: YongAn Huang Copy Editor: Pei-Yun Wang Production Editor: Pei-Yun Wang

Abstract
Flexible and stretchable electrochromic displays (ECDs) perform a crucial function in Internet of Things (IoT)
systems, as they have shown superior eye-friendly, energy-saving, mechanical (flexibility and stretchability)
properties. They can be integrated with IoT devices and successfully applied as wearable and intelligent
electronics. Flexible and stretchable ECD technology has shown promising potential but is still in the early stage of
development. A systematic overview from comprehensive perspectives of materials selection and modification,
structure design, and advanced fabrication methods of this technology is necessary. In this review, we concentrate
on the strategies in substrates, active layers, and electrolyte aspects to fabricate high-performance flexible and
stretchable ECDs. We have systematically summarized the materials selection/modification and device structure
design in these strategies. We also outline recent advances in flexible and stretchable ECDs based on processing
methods for electrode patterns, active layer patterns, electrolyte patterns, and ECD pixels. Moreover, the
interactive visual displays integrating ECD pixels with different sensors have been elaborated. Finally, we outline
the future directions for developing flexible and stretchable ECDs, focusing on materials, methods, and
applications. These prospects aim to overcome the limitations in pattern resolution, electrolyte uniformity, and
pixel size/number and realize the manufacturable, commercialized, scalable, and robust flexible ECDs. This review
can further promote the basic research and advanced fabrication of flexible ECDs and facilitate the advancement of
multifunctional displays to satisfy the increasing demand for next-generation flexible electronics.

Keywords: Electrochromic displays, flexible electronics, pattern design, pixelated displays

INTRODUCTION
During the rapid evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) systems, flexible display technologies have played a

© The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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