Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol.163, 23-30, 2017
Highly robust and flexible WO3.2H(2)O/PEDOT films for improved electrochromic performance in near-infrared region
Innovative WO3.2H(2)O/PEDOT films with strong adhesion of the electrochromic layer and the substrate were fabricated. A WO3.2H(2)O/PEDOT electrochromic layer can be firmly fixed to an ethylene vinyl acetate/polyethylene terephtlialate (EVA/PET) electrode using Ag as the conductive layer by a transient heating method. The electrochromic film is mechanically robust and can be twisted, folded and crumpled without performance degeneration. Improved performance has been realized by WO3.2H(2)O/PEDOT films compared with WO3.2H(2)O films due to the excellent electrical conductivity of PEDOT, including a higher of Li-ion diffusion coefficient (1.1x10(-9) cm(2) s(-1)), faster response time (2.6 s for bleaching time and 4.4 s for coloration time), higher color efficiency (180.2 cm(2) C-1) and larger transmittance modulation (63.1%) at 956 nm. The results are very promising for the next generation of deformable or implantable hidden message displays and wearable smart clothes applications.