Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films, which contained different content of heteropolyacid (HPA) with Dawson-Wells structure, were prepared. The photochromic behavior was investigated by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy. The result indicated that the film was reduced photochemically to yield a blue species under UV irradiation, and the color of the film changed to deep blue with increasing irradiation time and HPA content. The photochromic sensibility of different UV wavelength was investigated. In the UV-Vis spectra of the irradiated films, an isobestic point was observed at about 352 nm. The reduction mechanism of the heteropolyanion (W6+ --> W5+) was suggested. The thermal property and the conductivity of the film were also studied. The thermal degradation step and the melting point of the film were influenced by different content of the HPA. Notably, the conductivity of 8.3 3 x 10(-6) S cm(-1) was observed when the HPA content was 80 wt.%. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.