A high-performance electrochromic device assembled with WO<sub>3</sub>/Ag and TiO<sub>2</sub>/NiO composite electrodes towards smart window

doi:10.1007/s11706-024-0674-z

Front. Mater. Sci.

2024, Vol. 18

Issue (1) : 240674 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-024-0674-z

A high-performance electrochromic device assembled with WO₃/Ag and TiO₂/NiO composite electrodes towards smart window

Haorui Liu^1,², Jikai Yang^1,²(

), Decai Nie^1,², Chunlei Liu^1,², Liumenghan Zheng^1,², Yining Mu^1,², Weijun Chen²

¹. Chongqing Research Institute, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 400000, China
². School of Physics, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China

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Abstract

The choice of cathode and anode materials for electrochromic devices plays a key role in the performance of electrochromic smart windows. In this research, WO₃/Ag and TiO₂/NiO composite thin films were separately prepared by the hydrothermal method combined with electrodeposition. The electrochromic properties of the single WO₃ thin film were optimized, and TiO₂/NiO composite films showed better electrochromic performance than that of the single NiO film. WO₃/Ag and TiO₂/NiO composite films with excellent electrochromic properties were respectively chosen as the cathode and the anode to construct a WO₃/Ag‒TiO₂/NiO electrochromic device. The response time (t_c = 4.08 s, t_b = 1.08 s), optical modulation range (35.91%), and coloration efficiency (30.37 cm²·C⁻¹) of this electrochromic device are better than those of WO₃‒NiO and WO₃/Ag‒NiO electrochromic devices. This work provides a novel research idea for the performance enhancement of electrochromic smart windows.

Keywords WO₃/Ag composite film TiO₂/NiO composite film electrochromic device

Corresponding Author(s): Jikai Yang

About author:

Li Liu and Yanqing Liu contributed equally to this work.

Issue Date: 22 April 2024

Cite this article:

Haorui Liu,Jikai Yang,Decai Nie, et al. A high-performance electrochromic device assembled with WO₃/Ag and TiO₂/NiO composite electrodes towards smart window[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2024, 18(1): 240674.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-024-0674-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2024/V18/I1/240674

Scheme1 The overview flow chat of the design for ECD-3.

Fig.1 (a) XRD patterns of the WO₃ thin film and the WO₃/Ag-5 s composite thin film. (b) SEM image of the WO₃ thin film. (c) SEM image of the WO₃/Ag-3 s composite thin film. (d) SEM image of the WO₃/Ag-5 s composite thin film. (e) SEM image of the WO₃/Ag-7 s composite film. (f) EDS pattern of WO₃/Ag-composite films.

Fig.2 (a) XPS survey spectra for WO₃/Ag films. (b) High-resolution XPS spectra of Ag 3d for WO₃/Ag films.

Fig.3 Comparison of electrochromic properties of WO₃ and WO₃/Ag thin films: (a) CV curves; (b) CC curves; (c) transmittance variation curves at 630 nm; (d) spectral transmittance curves in colored and bleached states.

Tab.1 Parameters related to electrochromic performances of WO₃ and WO₃/Ag composite films at 630 nm

Fig.4 Nyquist plots of WO₃ and WO₃/Ag thin films.

Fig.5 (a) XRD patterns of the TiO₂(3 h) film and the TiO₂(3 h)/NiO composite film. (b) XPS survey spectrum for the TiO₂(3 h)/NiO film. (c) High-resolution XPS spectrum of Ni²⁺ 2p for the TiO₂(3 h)/NiO film.

Fig.6 SEM images of TiO₂ thin films and TiO₂/NiO composite thin films: (a) TiO₂(2 h); (b) TiO₂(3 h); (c) TiO₂(4 h); (d) TiO₂(2 h)/NiO; (e) TiO₂(3 h)/NiO; (f) TiO₂(4 h)/NiO.

Tab.2 Parameters related to electrochromic performances of NiO and TiO₂/NiO composite films at 630 nm

Fig.7 Comparison of electrochromic properties for NiO and TiO₂/NiO films: (a) CV curves; (b) CC curves; (c) transmittance variation curves at 630 nm; (d) spectral transmittance curves in colored and bleached states.

Fig.8 Nyquist plots of the NiO film and TiO₂/NiO composite films.

Tab.3 Parameters related to electrochromic performances of ECD-1, ECD-2, and ECD-3 at 630 nm

Fig.9 Comparison of electrochromic properties for ECD-1, ECD-2, and ECD-3: (a) CV curves; (b) CC curves; (c) transmittance variation curves at 630 nm; (d) spectral transmittance curves in colored and bleached states; (e) digital photograph of ECD-3.

Tab.4 Parameters related to electrochromic performances of ECD-1, ECD-2, and ECD-3 at 890 nm

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