Improved cyclability by tungsten addition in electrochromic NiO thin films

Nicolas Penin (1) , Aline Rougier (1) , Lydia Laffont (1) , Philippe Poizot (1) , Jean‐marie Tarascon (1)

1 LRCS - Laboratoire réactivité et chimie des solides - UMR CNRS 7314

Aiming at improving the electrochromic properties of NiO thin films, well-known as anodic counter electrodes, the effect of tungsten addition was investigated. Ni–W–O thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition in optimized conditions, namely a 10−1 mbar oxygen pressure and a room temperature substrate. The presence of W led to a progressive film amorphization. An increase in cyclability for Ni–W–O (5%t WO3) electrode, cycled in KOH 1 M electrolyte, was associated with a limited dissolution of the oxidized phases with tungsten addition. HRTEM investigations of cycled films revealed that the stabilization is correlated to the existence of an α(II) hydroxide phase.

Mots clés: NI-W-O mixed systems; Pulsed laser deposition; Durability; Electrochromism; Thin films

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]; Physique [physics]

Nicolas Penin, Aline Rougier, Lydia Laffont, Philippe Poizot, Jean‐marie Tarascon. Improved cyclability by tungsten addition in electrochromic NiO thin films. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2006, 90 (4), pp.422-433. ⟨10.1016/j.solmat.2005.01.018⟩. ⟨hal-00125496⟩