Electrodeposited Copolymers Based on 9,9′-(5-Bromo-1,3-Phenylene)Biscarbazole and Dithiophene Derivatives for High-Performance Electrochromic Devices

A 1,3-bis(carbazol-9-yl)benzene derivative (BPBC) was synthesized and its related homopolymer (PBPBC) and copolymers (P(BPBC-co-BT), P(BPBC-co-CDT), and P(BPBC-co-CDTK)) were prepared using electrochemical polymerization. Investigations of polymeric spectra showed that PBPBC film was grey, iron-grey, yellowish-grey, and greyish-green from the neutral to the oxidized state. P(BPBC-co-BT), P(BPBC-co-CDT), and P(BPBC-co-CDTK) films showed multicolor transitions from the reduced to the oxidized state. The transmittance change (DT) of PBPBC, P(BPBC-co-BT), P(BPBC-co-CDT), and P(BPBC-co-CDTK) films were 29.6% at 1040 nm, 44.4% at 1030 nm, 22.3% at 1050 nm, and 41.4% at 1070 nm. The coloration efficiency (η) of PBPBC and P(BPBC-co-CDTK) films were evaluated to be 140.3 cm2 C−1 at 1040 nm and 283.7 cm2 C−1 at 1070 nm, respectively. A P(BPBC-co-BT)/PEDOT electrochromic device (ECD) showed a large DT (36.2% at 625 nm) and a fast response time (less than 0.5 s), whereas a P(BPBC-co-CDTK)/PEDOT ECD revealed a large η (534.4 cm2 C–1 at 610 nm) and sufficient optical circuit memory.

Electrosynthesis of Electrochromic Polymer Membranes Based on 3,6-Di(2-thienyl)carbazole and Thiophene Derivatives

Five carbazole-containing polymeric membranes (PDTC, P(DTC-co-BTP), P(DTC-co-BTP2), P(DTC-co-TF), and P(DTC-co-TF2)) were electrodeposited on transparent conductive electrodes. P(DTC-co-BTP2) shows a high ΔT (68.4%) at 855 nm. The multichromic properties of P(DTC-co-TF2) membrane range between dark yellow, yellowish-green, gunmetal gray, and dark gray in various reduced and oxidized states. Polymer-based organic electrochromic devices are assembled using 2,2′-bithiophene- and 2-(2-thienyl)furan-based copolymers as anodic membranes, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT-PSS) as the cathodic membrane. P(DTC-co-TF)/PEDOT-PSS electrochromic device (ECD) displays a high transmittance change (ΔT%) (43.4%) at 627 nm as well as a rapid switching time (less than 0.6 s) from a colored to a bleached state. Moreover, P(DTC-co-TF2)/PEDOT-PSS ECD shows satisfactory optical memory (the transmittance change is less than 2.9% in the colored state) and high coloration efficiency (512.6 cm2 C−1) at 627 nm.

4-(Trifluoromethoxy)phenyl-Containing Polymers as Promising Anodic Materials for Electrochromic Devices

Three 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl-based polydithienylpyrroles (PTTPP, P(TTPP-co-DTC), and P(TTPP-co-DTP)) were synthesized electrochemically and their electrochromic behaviors were characterized. The introduction of electron withdrawing trifluoromethoxy unit in the side chain of polydithienylpyrroles (PSNS) decreases the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of PSNS. PTTPP film displays three various colors (grayish-yellow at 0 V, grayish-blue at 1.0 V, and bluish-violet at 1.4 V) from reduced to oxidized states. The optical contrast of PTTPP, P(TTPP-co-DTC), and P(TTPP-co-DTP) electrodes are 24.5% at 1050 nm, 49.0% at 916 nm, and 53.8% at 1302 nm, respectively. The highest η of the PTTPP electrode is 379.64 cm2 C−1 at 1050 nm. Three ECDs based on PTTPP, P(TTPP-co-DTC), or P(TTPP-co-DTP) as anodic film and PProDOT-Et2 as cathodic film were fabricated. PTTPP/PProDOT-Et2 ECD showed high transmittance change (35.7% at 588 nm) and high η (890.96 cm2·C−1 at 588 nm). P(TTPP-co-DTC)/PProDOT-Et2 and P(TTPP-co-DTP)/PProDOT-Et2 ECDs showed high transmittance change, rapid response time, adequate open circuit memory, and good electrochemical redox stability. Based on these findings, this work provides novel insights for appropriate design of high transmittance change and high efficient multi-colored electrochromic polymers.

Flexible Conductive Cellulose Network-Based Composite Hydrogel for Multifunctional Supercapacitors

With the continuous development of energy storage devices towards sustainability and versatility, the development of biomass-based multi-functional energy storage devices has become one of the important directions. In this study, a symmetric dual-function supercapacitor was constructed based on a cellulose network/polyacrylamide/polyaniline (CPP) composite hydrogel. The presented supercapacitor, with excellent electrochemical performance and an areal capacitance of 1.73 mF/cm2 at 5 mV/s, an energy density of 0.62 µW h/cm2 at a power density of 7.03 µW/cm2, a wide electrochemical window of 1.6 V and a promising cycling stability, can be achieved. The transmittance of the supercapacitor at 500 nm decreased by 9.6% after the electrification at 3 V, and the device can exhibit periodic transmittance change under the square potential input between 0.0 V and 3.0 V at regular intervals of 10 s. The present construction strategy provides a basis for the preparation of multifunctional devices with natural renewable materials and structures.

Electrochromic Properties of Li- Doped NiO Films Prepared by RF Magnetron Sputtering

In this study: various amounts of Li2CO3 powders were mixed into NiO powders to fabricate the Li- added NiO (NiO:Li) targets. The electrochromic films of LiNiO were deposited on ITO glasses at room temperature (R.T.) by RF magnetron sputtering. The thicknesses of electrochromic LiNiO films were kept about 200 nm. The ECD device was constructed with structure of Glass/ITO/ LiNiO /Gel-electrolyte/ITO/Glass. The results indicated that the optimal electrochromic characteristics of Li0.16Ni0.58O thin films could be obtained by 10 wt% Li2CO3 added NiO target. The optimized characteristics of ECDs could be achieved with the intercalation charge (Q) of 11.93 mC/cm2, the optical density (ΔOD) of 0.38, the transmittance change (ΔT) of 44.1%, and the coloring efficiency (η) of 31.8 cm2/C at the wavelength of 550 nm by setting voltage of 3.2V. The results demonstrate that the doping of Li+ ions into NiO films can effectively enhance the characteristics of ECD devices. The reason may due to the increased amount of charge stored in the electrochromic devices (ECDs).

Electrochromic Properties of Lithium-Doped Tungsten Oxide Prepared by Electron Beam Evaporation

In this study, xLi2O-(1−x)WO3 powders were mixed with WO3 and Li2O and pressed into target pellets to fabricate electrochromic films on indium tin oxide (ITO) glasses prepared by electron beam evaporation under the parameters of room temperature, and thicknesses of about 530 nm. It was expected that the amount of charge stored in the electrochromic devices (ECDs) could be enhanced by using the doping method in the cathode materials. The experimental results show that as the composition of Li0.18W0.82O2.6 powder was formed, the optimal characteristics of ECD can be obtained. In which, as a voltage of 3.5 V was applied on ECD, a transmittance change (ΔT%) of 53.1%, an optical density (ΔOD) of 0.502, an intercalation charge (Q) of 12.9 mC/cm2 and a coloration efficiency (η) of 41.6 cm2/C at a wavelength of 550 nm can be achieved. These results demonstrate that Li2O doping in WO3 films could effectively improve the coloration and electrochromic properties of ECD devices.