PLASMA MODIFIED WO3 HYBRIDS WITH ALTERED DONOR GROUPS FOR FLEXIBLE ELECTROCHROMIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract

This study reports the preparation of hybrids of tungsten trioxide/polythiophene (WO3/PTh) and tungsten trioxide/polyfuran (WO3/PFu) using a rotating capacitively coupled radio frequency (rf) plasma process. The prepared hybrid characteristics were measured using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). WO3, WO3/PTh, WO3/PFu thin films were deposited onto flexible substrates using electron beam evaporation technique for high electrochromic performance purposes. The effect of thiophene and furan moieties on the optical and electrochromic properties of the flexible hybrid-based ECDs was investigated using optical and electrochemical measurements. Especially, the WO3/PTh-based ECD shows marked improvements of cathodic electrochromism over WO3-based ECD: the optical contrast of 33% at 750 nm, the switching times (bleaching time: 1.63 s, coloration time: 0.41 s), the coloration efficiency of 502 cm2/C.