Soldier Wearing Sunglasses
The site of an avalanche is reflected in the sunglasses of a soldier. Photo taken near the Siachen glacier on April 18, 2012. REUTERS/FAISAL MAHMOOD

A novel technology in eyewear enables wearers to transform transparent lens to shaded ones or vice versa within seconds. Unlike transition lens that darken when exposed to light or UV radiation, the new eyewear can switch modes whenever the wearer wants to. The John Reynolds Research Group at the Georgia Institute of Technology designed these glasses to include features that are not present in photochromic or transition lenses. Anna Österholm, lead author of the study, said that a lot of transitional lenses that are commercially available do not meet the users’ needs.

The research team was able to fabricate a new type of lens that could darken and then brighten again in just a few seconds. According to the study which was published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, this user-controlled eyewear has lenses made of electrochromic polymer (ECP) blends. ECPs are flexible and attractive materials used in processing plastic electronics. They cost less and use a small amount of electricity too. The electrochromic eyewear is fast-switching and high-contrast. Users can also modify the hues so the frames could appear like stylish sunglasses.

Electrochromic eyewear would be very useful for individuals who often perform activities outdoors or while traveling. Law enforcers on the road, construction workers, pilots and so forth would feel more comfortable with this user-controlled eyewear, which can stay clear even if the wearer is under the sun. Another feature is the ability of the lenses to block the most harmful rays or light. The researchers constructed the lenses using inkjet printing and blade-coating to demonstrate the potential use of soluble ECPs for mass production. This study was funded by the German company, Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik (BASF Corporation), the world’s largest chemical producer.

In 2007, the University of Washington introduced their version of electrochromic glasses, also called smart glasses, which is powered by a watch battery affixed to the glasses frame. The prototype was also made of a low-cost sheet that changes hues without the aid of light. To change the shade, the wearer rotates a tiny switch, which is also attached to the frame. The battery powers a thousand shade transitions.

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