Electrolyte design for reversible metal electrodeposition-based electrochromic energy-saving devices
Jinhui Wang,
Ying Lv,
Yiping Zhou,
Sensen Jia,
Feng Zhu,
Oliver G. Schmidt,
Guofa Cai
Affiliations
Jinhui Wang
Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Display and Lighting Technology, School of Materials and Engineering, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Nano Functional Materials and Applications, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Ying Lv
Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Display and Lighting Technology, School of Materials and Engineering, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Nano Functional Materials and Applications, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Yiping Zhou
Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Display and Lighting Technology, School of Materials and Engineering, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Nano Functional Materials and Applications, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Sensen Jia
Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Display and Lighting Technology, School of Materials and Engineering, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Nano Functional Materials and Applications, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Feng Zhu
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
Oliver G. Schmidt
Research Center for Materials Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz 09126, Germany
Reversible metal electrodeposition (RME)-based electrochromic devices have been attracting significant research interest due to their merits of low cost, simple configuration, and high extinction coefficients. As the key component in the electrochromic system, RME electrolytes with various metal ions and additives have endowed the RME device with flexible functionalities in energy-saving applications such as energy-efficient displays, smart windows, and camouflages. However, it is still challenging to research a widespread commercial application before some critical issues can be solved such as poor reversibility, low optical memory of the mirror state, and slow switching speed. Here, we offer a critical review of the recent progress of RME electrochromic devices based on aqueous, organic, ionic liquid, and eutectic electrolytes. Furthermore, the main challenges and perspectives for RME electrolytes are highlighted and discussed.
