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Simplified All‐Solid‐State WO 3 Based Electrochromic Devices on Single Substrate: Toward Large Area, Low Voltage, High Contrast, and Fast Switching Dynamics
Author(s) -
Cossari Pierluigi,
Pugliese Marco,
Simari Cataldo,
Mezzi Alessio,
Maiorano Vincenzo,
Nicotera Isabella,
Gigli Giuseppe
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.201901663
Subject(s) - electrochromism , materials science , electrochromic devices , substrate (aquarium) , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , fabrication , transmittance , electrolyte , thin film , electrode , oceanography , alternative medicine , chemistry , pathology , geology , medicine
Electrochromic devices (ECDs) represent one of the most promising energy saving and solar control technology for the market of energy‐efficient building and optoelectronic devices. A continuous and intense effort is currently devoted to the development of effective solid‐state ECDs and their integration in multifunctional systems, such as photoelectrochromics. Here, the fabrication of simplified all‐solid‐state WO 3 based ECDs on single‐substrate is reported, demonstrating how the rational design of highly interconnected WO 3 columnar nanostructures with Nafion polymer matrix remarkably decreases the charge transport barrier at the hybrid electrolyte/electrochromic interface (EEI), thus determining an impressive improvement of overall device performances. The soft polymer substrate of the electrolyte plays a key role on the formation of WO 3 pillar‐like structures and on the increase of interfacial contact area by affecting the vacuum‐deposition WO 3 growth. Apart from providing higher transmittance in bleached state, the resulting device, entirely manufactured at room temperature by bottom‐up process, exhibits lower activation voltages (0.5–3 V) and faster switching kinetics (5–10 s) compared with monolithic ECDs based on both bulk and mesoporous WO 3 films. Furthermore, the enhanced EEI enables the scale‐up on large area and flexible substrate ensuring simultaneously a wide optical contrast (Δ T = 70%), and high coloration efficiency.