Understanding perceived color through gradual spectroscopic variations in electrochromism

A bias-dependent in situ Raman scattering and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopic change has been correlated with the corresponding color change of an electrochromic device in an attempt to explain how to understand the relationship between actual perceived color and its absorption/transmittance spectra. For this, the bias across an electrochromic device was increased gradually, rather than abruptly turning ON and OFF, to see subtle variations in Raman and absorption spectra due to bias. Raman scattering establishes that viologen changes its oxidation state reversibly between two redox species (EV²⁺ to EV^+•) as a result of bias-induced dynamic redox process. A gradual variation in Raman and absorption spectra, which shows maximum absorption corresponding to the yellow light, accompanies similar variation in color change of the device as visible by naked eye. These spectroscopic results are correlated with the perceived blue color, in the reflected light, by the eye to understand the actual reason behind this. Maximum absorption of yellow light by the device resulting in blue appearance has been explained using the concept of additive and subtractive primary colors.