PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ELECTROCHROMIC COMPLEX TUNGSTEN OXIDES

Приведён краткий обзор проблемы электрохромизма в неупорядоченных тонких пленках сложных оксидов вольфрама на основе экспериментальных результатов, опубликованных ранее. Рассмотрены проблемы ионно-электронного упорядочения в сложных оксидах вольфрама MWO ( M = Na, K и x = 0,3), их взаимосвязь с динамикой процесса электрохромного окрашивания в этих конденсированных системах. Рассмотрены возможные пути решения обозначенных проблем. Отправной точкой нашего похода к исследованию электрохромизма и разработки физических основ технологии электрохромных устройств явился отказ от общепринятого электрохимического рассмотрения этого явления. Мы убеждены в том, что электрохромный эффект является чисто твердотельным эффектом, происходящим в конденсированной системе с сильной электронной корреляцией. Электронная структура твердого тела, имеющаяся на границе раздела твердое тело-электролит в значительной степени, управляет характером и скоростью реакций, которые протекают на его поверхности. В случае окислов роль, которую играет электронная структура особенно сложна. Все изложенное указывает на необходимость рассмотрения влияния глубоких уровней в объеме оксидной вольфрамовой бронзы и на ее поверхности, граничащей с электролитом на процесс электрохромного окрашивания. A brief review of the problem of electrochromism in disordered thin films of complex tungsten oxides is given on the basis of experimental results published earlier. The problems of the ion-electron ordering in complex tungsten oxides MWO (M = Na or K and x = 0,3) are regarded as well as their relationship with the dynamics of the process of electrochromic coloring in these condensed systems. Possible ways of solving the indicated problems are considered. The starting point of our campaign to study the electrochromism and to develop the physical grounds of the technology of electrochromic devices was the rejection of the generally accepted electrochemical consideration of this phenomenon. We are convinced that the electrochromic effect is a purely solid-state one occurring in a condensed system with a strong electron correlation. The electronic structure of a solid at the solid-electrolyte interface largely controls the nature and rate of reactions that take place on its surface. In the case of oxides, the role played by the electronic structure is particularly complex. All of the above indicates the need to consider the effect of deep levels in the bulk of the oxide tungsten bronze and on its surface, bordering the electrolyte, on the process of electrochromic coloring.

On the Arrangement of Pentagonal Columns in Tetragonal Tungsten Bronze-Type Nb18W16O93

The evaluation of HAADF-STEM images of a sample with the composition Nb18W16O93 provided new insights into its real structure. The basic structure comprises an intact octahedral framework of the tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) type. The partial occupation of the pentagonal tunnels (PT) by metal–oxygen strings determines the oxygen-to-metal ratio (O/ΣM with M = Nb,W). For a large area, the O/ΣM was determined to be 2.755, which is bigger than the value of Nb18W16O93, which is O/ΣM = 2.735. To a large extent, the three-fold TTB superstructure of Nb8W9O47 with a high oxygen content is present (O/ΣM = 2.765). In addition, a new four-fold TTB superstructure was found in small domains. Nb12W11O63 with an O/ΣM = 2.739 obviously accommodates part of the sample’s metal excess compared to the stable phase Nb8W9O47.

Optimization of hydrogen-ion storage performance of tungsten trioxide nanowires by niobium doping

The transport and storage of ions within solid state structures is a fundamental limitation for fabricate more advanced electrochemical energy storage, memristor, and electrochromic devices. Crystallographic shear structure can be induced in the tungsten bronze structures composed of corner-sharing WO6 octahedra by the addition of edge-sharing NbO6 octahedra, which might provide more storage sites and more convenient transport channels for external ions such as hydrogen ions and alkali metal ions. Here, we show that Nb2O5·15WO3 nanowires with long length-diameter ratio, smooth surface, and uniform diameter have been successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The Nb2O5·15WO3 nanowires do exhibit more advantages over h-WO3 nanowires in electrochemical hydrogen ion storage such as smaller polarization, larger capacity(71 mAh/g, at 10C, 1C = 100 mA/g), better cycle performance (remain at 99% of the initial capacity after 200 cycles at 100C) and faster H+ diffusion kinetics. Therefore, complex niobium tungsten oxide nanowires might offer great promise for the next generation of hydrogen ion batteries.