Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol.56, No.3, 343-373, 1999
Comparative studies of "all sol-gel" electrochromic devices with optically passive counter-electrode films, ormolyte Li+ ionconductor and WO3 or Nb2O5 electrochromic films
Laminated electrochromic (EC) devices are becoming increasingly important for making "smart" windows and switchable displays. Mostly, polymeric Li+ ionic conductors in combination with vacuum deposited active electrochromic and counter-electrode films are used. In this paper we report on the development of all sol-gel EC devices, that is, those where all three internal layers are prepared via the sol-gel route, including the ionically conductive inorganic-organic hybrid (ormolyte). The electrochemical and optical properties of EC devices are presented and the cycling stability and reversibility of their optical modulation assessed. The results show that WO3/ormolyte/SnO2: Mo, WO3/ormolyte/SnO2: Sb, WO3/ormolyte/SnO2:Sb:Mo, Nb2O5/ormolyte/SnO2 : Sb:Mo and WO3/ormolyte/LiCo-oxide exhibit a transmission modulation dependent on the thickness of the active electrochromic and counter-electrode films and the thickness of the ormolyte layer. Electrochemical and optical properties of individual films are described and correlated with the stability of the all sol-gel EC devices.
Keywords:THIN-FILMS;TRANSPARENT ELECTRODES;SPRAY-PYROLYSIS;LITHIUMBATTERY;TUNGSTEN;COATINGS;ACID;SNO2;COUNTERELECTRODE;MICROSTRUCTURE