14 DAY TRIAL // A novel class of smart sunglasses can change instantly into virtually any color at will just by acting on a minute electronic knob on their frames. "We've developed lenses that aren't like anything else on the market. This could be the fashion statement of the future," said researcher Chunye Xu, a chemical engineer at the University of Washington at Seattle.
Xu's team has developed lenses made from a type of electrochromic polymer, a compound that can change its darkness and color in contact with an electric current and energy is consumed only when the glasses change hue.
By now, the team has made prototype shades that look like a pair of lab goggles with a dial onto their frame. The dial is employed to activate the minute watch battery powering, turning up to the desired color. "A single watch battery can power thousands of changes," Xu said.
In lab experiments, the researchers have proven their glasses can switch on a moment from transparent to blue, plus a lot of hues in between, at the flip of a switch, with minimal energy waste. "We are working on a multicolored device as well, but no prototype is available yet," Xu said. "The chemists have also created red and green electrochromic polymers, but currently they are not yet as stable as the scientists would like," explained Moniru Taya, a materials scientist from University of Washington.
The combination of polymers of different colors into multiple layers could produce lenses with virtually any shade of the rainbow. "Ultimately, smart sunglasses could be produced to resemble the size and shape of regular shades for about the same cost," Xu said.
The smart sunglasses could also be coated with protective anti-UV screening layers, just like in regular sunglasses. "Still, these kinds of sunglasses won't be available to consumers for another two or three years, as more testing is needed," said Xu.