Electrochromism, a Possible Change of Color Producible in Dyes by an Electric Field

Theoretical considerations suggest that the absorption and emission spectra of certain dyes may be shifted by hundreds of angstroms upon application of a strong electric field. The effect could be called ``electrochromism,'' in analogy to ``thermochromism'' and ``photochromism.'' The theory of the effect is outlined and is discussed in terms of compounds which might be expected to show it most strongly.