Electrochromic Properties of Sol-gel Coating of Nb2O5 and Nb2O5:Li+

Abstract

Thin solid films of Nb2O5 and Nb2O5:Li+ were prepared by the sol-gel process using the sonocatalytic method. The films reported here were prepared from a NbCl5 as precursor and butanol as solvent. Through the addition of lithium salt LiCF3SO3 to the precursor solution, films with different electrochemical performance were obtained. The electrochemical and optical responses of the films were determined from the cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements using a 0.1 M LiClO4/PC as electrolyte. The electrochromic properties of the films were investigated using in situ spectroelectrochemical method. They exhibit a gray coloration under Li+ insertion with a reversible variation of the transmittance in the visible and near infrared range between 20% and 80%.

Keywords

• electrochromism
• Nb2O5
• sol-gel