Electrochromic properties of ITO/WO3/LiClO4-PC-PMMA-ACN/NiO/ITO framework

Abstract The development of the preparation of tungsten oxide (WO3) nanorods (NRs) using hydrothermal method is still underway. This study demonstrated the growth of WO3 NRs on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates in aqueous solution using single synthesis step hydrothermal synthesis. The surface area and size of the NRs which should be tunable for electrochromic(EC) applications were controlled by adjusting the concentration of surfactants such as propylene glycol (PG). The synthesized WO3 NRs exhibited fast switching speed and high contrast ratio implying superior EC properties for smart window application. Furthermore, an EC device with the dimensions of 2×4 cm2was assembled using the synthesizedWO3NRswith the ITO/WO3/Lithium perchlorate-propylene carbonate-poly(methyl methacrylate)-acetonitrile/nickel oxide/ITO configuration. The device had an average optical modulation in the visible region, a fast EC response time (1.2s for coloration and 1.5s for decoloration), excellent coloration efficiency (243 cm2 C­1) anda superior EC stability (over 20000 color/decolor cycles)