0000000000530718
AUTHOR
Gunnar A. Niklasson
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.
Structure and composition of sputter-deposited nickel-tungsten oxide films
Films of mixed nickel-tungsten oxide, denoted NixW1-x oxide, were prepared by reactive DC magnetron co-sputtering from metallic targets and were characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy. A consistent picture of the structure and composition emerged, and at x<0.50 the films comprised a mixture of amorphous WO3 and nanosized NiWO4, at x = 0.50 the nanosized NiWO4 phase was dominating, and at x>0.50 the films contained nanosized NiO and NiWO4.
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…