Compositional Optimization of Sputtered WO₃/MoO₃ Films for High Coloration Efficiency

Abstract

Thin films of mixed MoO3 and WO3 were obtained using reactive magnetron sputtering onto ITO-covered glass, and the optimal composition was determined for the best electrochromic (EC) properties. A combinatorial material synthesis approach was applied throughout the deposition experiments, and the samples represented the full composition range of the binary MoO3/WO3 system. The electrochromic characteristics of the mixed oxide films were determined with simultaneous measurement of layer transmittance and applied electric current through the using organic propylene carbonate electrolyte cells in a conventional three-electrode configuration. Coloration efficiency data evaluated from the primary data plotted against the composition displayed a characteristic maximum at around 60% MoO3. Our combinatorial approach allows the localization of the maximum at 5% accuracy.

Keywords

• reactive sputtering
• combinatorial sputtering
• electrochromic materials
• tungsten–molybdenum oxide
• coloration efficiency