From beads-to-wires-to-fibers of tungsten oxide: electrochromic response

Suitable host lattice and morphology for easy intercalation and deintercalation process are crucial requirements for electrochromic device. In this investigation, the evolution of structural and morphological changes and their effect on electrochromic (EC) properties of spray-deposited WO₃ thin films are studied. Films of different morphologies were deposited from an ammonium tungstate precursor solution using a novel pulsed spray pyrolysis technique (PSPT) on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates by varying quantity of spraying solution. Interesting morphological transition from beads-to-wires-to-fibers as a function of quantity of sprayed solution has been demonstrated. The porosity, crystallinity and “open” structures in the films consisting of beads, wires, and fiber-like morphology enabled us to correlate these aspects to their EC performance. WO₃ films comprising wire-like morphology (20 cc spraying quantity) exhibited better EC properties both in terms of coloration efficiency (42.7 cm²/C) and electrochemical stability (10³ colored/bleached cycles) owing to their adequate open structure, porosity, and amorphicity, compared with the films having bead/fiber-like morphology.