Advanced processing and characterization of Nafion electrolyte films for solid-state electrochromic devices fabricated at room temperature on single substrate

Simplified All‐Solid‐State WO3 Based Electrochromic Devices on Single Substrate: Toward Large Area, Low Voltage, High Contrast, and Fast Switching Dynamics

“…The variation of the optical properties can also be visualized by the photos displayed in Figure 6, reporting the fully transparent bleached (Figure 6a) and the dark blue tinted (colored) (Figure 6b www.advmatinterfaces.de such a single-substrate device ensures an excellent optical and aesthetical quality of the smart glass without surface defects such as cracks, bubbles, inclusions, dirt, and color changes typically associated with the employment of sticky gel electrolytes. Furthermore, the adoption of a solid electrolyte and a simplified design conferred high durability to these systems in terms of electrochemical stability for ECD-A, [27,28] and optical durability for ECD-B observing a decrement of optical modulation of about 20% after 500 bleaching/coloring cycles ( Figure S8, Supporting Information).…”

“…[28] Unlike the most part of SPEs, it can be also employed as a suitable substrate for physical vacuum deposition (thermal or reactive sputtering) of EC and TCE layers, conferring thus a major versatility in processing steps device assembly and the design of multifunctional EC systems by the integration of solid-state EC cell with other optoelectronic systems. To deepen investigate these key aspects we fabricated a standard ECD model based on highly performing materials.…”

“…This system exhibited an optical contrast of 35% and a response time of 25 s. [26] Conversely, we reported a hybrid monolithic device fabricated continuously on a single substrate without, however, any extra curing or annealing treatment of the polymer electrolyte. [16,27,28] In a similar way to the manufacturing of all inorganic monolithic devices, it allows for direct deposition of a highly transparent conductive electrode (TCE) layer on the top of a very thin solid Nafion film. The resulting device showed an optical contrast of 49% at 650 nm with high activation voltages (6-12 V) and low switching response times ranging between 30 and 90 s.…”

“…For EC applications it can be processed in a suitable solid film, ensuring an exceptional optical quality of the whole EC device as well as high proton conductivity and structural properties. [28] Unlike the most part of SPEs, it can be also employed as a suitable substrate for physical vacuum deposition (thermal or reactive sputtering) of EC and TCE layers, conferring thus a major versatility in processing steps device assembly and the design of multifunctional EC systems by the integration of solid-state EC cell with other optoelectronic systems. [16] In this experimental work, the improvement in device performances is ascribable to the formation of a wellinterconnected hybrid WO 3 -Nafion layer and the consequent increase of EC-SPE interfacial area.…”

Composite Gel Polymer Electrolytes Based on Organo-Modified Nanoclays: Investigation on Lithium-Ion Transport and Mechanical Properties

“…Polymer electrolytes are regarded as one of the most promising candidates in advanced electrochemical applications, such as “smart” windows, displays, sensors, and more importantly, rechargeable lithium batteries [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. For this last one, in particular, the research has focused for decades on gel-type membrane [ 5 ], generally achieved by immobilizing a liquid solution (for instance, a polar aprotic organic solvent or mixtures with a lithium salt) into a hosting polymeric matrix, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and its derivatives (e.g., polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)) [ 6 , 7 ].…”