Electrochromic properties of Prussian Blue-polypyrrole composite films in dependence on parameters of synthetic procedure

Composite materials of Prussian blue–polypyrrole (PB/PPy) on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glasses were obtained via one-step chemical (redox) and one-stage electrochemical procedures in mixed solution of iron (III), hexacyanoferrate (III), and pyrrole with various concentration ratios of components in nitrate supporting electrolyte. Electrochemical stability of composite films depends on the amount of Py in synthetic solution, whereas color contrast coefficient values depend on the type of synthetic procedure. PB/PPy film electrochromic response (tested by spectroelectrochemical potentiodynamic measurements) was compared with response of both pure PB and pure PPy films. It was shown that degradation of composite films occurs due to PB component instability in Prussian white form. The highest value of color contrast coefficient and great electrochemical stability were revealed for composite films obtained via redox-synthesis procedure from solution with 0.1 mM [Fe3+ + Fe(CN)6 3−] and 1.0 mM Ру (PB/PPy-Ch-1:1:10 system).