0000000000205187
AUTHOR
Andris Azens
X-ray absorption study of Ce?Ti oxide films
Abstract X-ray absorption measurements at the Ce L 3 , L 1 and Ti K-edges have been done to study local structure and electronic properties of CeO 2 –TiO 2 thin films produced by reactive d.c. magnetron sputtering. The local environment around titanium and cerium ions can be described as pyramid-like and cube-like polyhedra, respectively, and the films are amorphous (correlation radius about 10 A). The analysis of Ce L 3 -edge XANES data has shown that the position of the Ce 4f 1 5d and 4f 0 5d states progressively shift towards lower energies with decreasing cerium dioxide content in the thin films.
Electrochromic Devices Incorporating Cr Oxide And Ni Oxide Films:
Abstract Transparent films of Cr oxide and Ni oxide were made by reactive DC magnetron sputtering in Ar+O2+H2. They displayed anodic electrochromism with charge capacities similar to that of W oxide. Cr oxide was stable in acidic environments, while Ni oxide was stable in basic environments. Electrochromic devices were made with pristine Cr oxide or Ni oxide films operating in conjunction with W oxide and a proton conducting electrolyte. Of the two oxides, Cr oxide film allowed device operation at a lower voltage span, while the device with Ni oxide film yielded a higher transmittance in the bleached state, a larger absorptance modulation, and a more neutral color.
<title>Proton conducting polymer electrolytes for electrochromic devices</title>
This report concerns a composite proton electrolyte suitable for use in electrochromic devices. The electrolyte consists of nanosize hydrated oxide (aluminum, silicon or antimonic) particles suspended in a poly(vinyl acetate) matrix. All of the water was strongly bonded, thus making the electrolytes less harmful without considerably decreasing the conductivity. The proton conductivity of the electrolyte was approximately 10-4 S/cm at room temperature, practically independent of its amount of absorbed water.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Changes in the local structure of nanocrystalline electrochromic films of hydrated nickel vanadium oxide upon ozone-induced coloration
Hydrated thin films of nickel vanadium oxide (Ni1−xVxOy), made by reactive DC magnetron sputtering, were studied by x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ni and V K-edges using synchrotron radiation. The XANES signals were analysed within the full-multiple-scattering formalism, whereas EXAFS data were modelled within the multi-shell multiple-scattering approach. We found that transparent films exhibit a nanocrystalline NiO-type structure with homogeneous distribution of V ions substituting Ni ions. Exposure of the films to ozone resulted in dark brown coloration associated with an appearance of Ni3+ ions and accompanied by a modification of the local electronic and atomic structures of the V…
Li intercalation in transparent Ti–Ce oxide films: Energetics and ion dynamics
Films of Ti dioxide, mixed Ti–Ce oxide, and Ce dioxide were produced by reactive dc magnetron sputtering. Electrochemical lithiation was probed by chronopotentiometry, cyclic voltammetry together with optical transmittance recording, and impedance spectroscopy. Evidence was found for inserted electrons being accommodated in Ce 4f states; this contention was supported by preliminary results from x-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy. These electrons do not produce luminous electrochromism. The variation of the chemical diffusion coefficient of Li, with film composition and Li content, was also studied.
<title>Electrochromism of W-oxide-based films: some theoretical and experimental results</title>
We survey some recent work related to electrochromic W-oxide-based thin films. The electronic structure of cubic (perovskite) WO3 and HWO3 was calculated from first principles. It was found, among other things, that hydroxide formation was energetically favored. Experimental studies were made on films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering in Ar + O2 with and without CF4 addition and substrate bias. Structural studies by atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction, infrared reflectance spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the electron bombardment associated with a positive substrate bias led to grain growth and partial crystallization while maintaining a high density of W e…
<title>Cerium-containing counter electrodes for transparent electrochromic devices</title>
Films of Me-Ce oxide (Me: Ti, Zr, Sn, W) and of Ni-Ce hydroxide were produced by reactive magnetron co-sputtering. Li intercalation in Me-Ce oxide, and H exchange in Ni-Ce hydroxide, were accomplished electrochemically. Electrochromism was quenched in proportion with the Ce content in Me-Ce oxide. Films of Zr-Ce (and to some extent Ti-Ce) oxide were able to serve as fully transparent counter electrodes, of much interest for transparent electrochromic devices. In Ni-Ce hydroxide, the Ce addition enhanced the capacity for charge exchange.
<title>Electrochromism in oxyfluoride thin films</title>
Oxyfluoride films based on W and Ti were prepared by reactive sputtering in plasmas containing O2 + CF4. The deposition rate was large, particularly when chemical sputtering was promoted by heating the target. The films could show large charge insertion/extraction, high coloration efficiency, and good cycling durability.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Recent Advances in Electrochromics for Smart Windows Applications
Electrochromic smart windows are able to vary their throughput of radiant energy by low-voltage electrical pulses. This function is caused by reversible shuttling of electrons and charge balancing ions between an electrochromic thin film and a transparent counter electrode. The ion transport takes place via a solid electrolyte. Charge transport is evoked by a voltage applied between transparent electrical conductors surrounding the electrochromic film/electrolyte/counter electrode stack. This review summarizes recent progress concerning (i) calculated optical properties of crystalline WO3, (ii) electrochromic properties of heavily disordered W oxide and oxyfluoride films produced by reactiv…
Proton conducting polymer composites for electrochromic devices
Abstract This report describes composite proton electrolytes composed of nanosize zirconium phosphate or antimonic acid particles suspended in a poly(vinyl acetate)/glycerin gel matrix. The proton conductivity was 10 −3 –10 −4 S/cm at room temperature, thermal stability prevailed up to at least 110°C, and compatibility was found with oxide electrodes; these properties makes the electrolyte suitable for use in solid state electrochemical devices. The temperature dependence of the conductivity was found to obey the Williams-Landel-Ferry relationship at temperatures over 60°C, thus suggesting that the ion conductivity in the composite electrolyte can be described by mechanisms normally taken t…
Proton conducting composite electrolytes based on antimonic acid
Abstract This report concerns a composite proton electrolyte suitable for use in electrochromic devices. The electrolyte consists of nanosize pyrochlore antimonic acid particles suspended in a poly(vinyl acetate) matrix by a gel route. It was found possible to substitute the antimonic acid by inert oxides of aluminum and silicon, thus making the electrolyte less harmful to the oxide electrodes of the electrochromic devices without considerably decreasing the conductivity. The proton conductivity of the antimonic acid electrolyte was ∼10 −4 S/cm at room temperature, practically independent of its amount of absorbed water.
Aluminium oxide — Poly(vinyl acetate) composite electrolyte for electrochromic devices
This report describes composite proton electrolytes composed of nanosize activated aluminium oxide particles with different surface acidity suspended in a poly(vinyl acetate)/glycerine matrix. The conductivity of the composite was found to increase by going from basic to neutral to acidic aluminium oxide. Tests in laminated electrochromic devices with tungsten oxide and nickel hydroxide films showed that the acidic electrolyte is compatible with WO3, the basic electrolyte is compatible with Ni(OH)2, and the neutral electrolyte is compatible with both of the electrodes.