Issue 19, 2012

The anodized crystalline WO3 nanoporous network with enhanced electrochromic properties

Abstract

We demonstrate that a three dimensional (3D) crystalline tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanoporous network, directly grown on a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) substrate, is a suitable working electrode material for high performance electrochromic devices. This nanostructure, with achievable thicknesses of up to 2 μm, is prepared at room temperature by the electrochemical anodization of a RF-sputtered tungsten film deposited on a fluoride doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glass, under low applied anodic voltages and mild chemical dissolution conditions. For the crystalline nanoporous network with thicknesses ranging from 0.6 to 1 μm, impressive coloration efficiencies of up to 141.5 cm2 C−1 are achieved by applying a low coloration voltage of −0.25 V. It is also observed that there is no significant degradation of the electrochromic properties of the porous film after 2000 continuous coloration–bleaching cycles. The remarkable electrochromic characteristics of this crystalline and nanoporous WO3 are mainly ascribed to the combination of a large surface area, facilitating increased intercalation of protons, as well as excellent continuous and directional paths for charge transfer and proton migration in the highly crystalline material.

Graphical abstract: The anodized crystalline WO3 nanoporous network with enhanced electrochromic properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 May 2012
Accepted
23 Jul 2012
First published
26 Jul 2012

Nanoscale, 2012,4, 5980-5988

The anodized crystalline WO3 nanoporous network with enhanced electrochromic properties

J. Z. Ou, S. Balendhran, M. R. Field, D. G. McCulloch, A. S. Zoolfakar, R. A. Rani, S. Zhuiykov, A. P. O'Mullane and K. Kalantar-zadeh, Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 5980 DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31203D

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