Controllable and large-scale fabrication of flexible ITO-free electrochromic devices by crackle pattern technology. Issue 40 (3rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Zijie; Li, Weifeng; Huang, Jiani; Liu, Qian; Guo, Xing; Guo, Wenxi; Liu, Xiangyang
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 6:Issue 40(2018)
• Page Start: 19584
• Page End: 19589
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ta07154c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Controllable and large-scale fabrication of flexible ITO-free electrochromic devices by crackle pattern technology. Abstract : Electrochromic devices (ECDs) presenting reversible color variation are considered as the most promising alternative to traditional smart windows. However, the fabrication of large-scale ECDs with high flexibility and stability is still challenging. In this work, we present a crackle pattern technology for controllable and large-scale fabrication of rectangular Ag network films for indium tin oxide-free (ITO-free) flexible ECDs. This rectangular Ag film exhibits superior mechanical robustness and controllable optoelectronic performance (2.0 Ω sq −1 at 91% transmittance). In the application of WO3 based ECD, the rectangular film presents an ultrafast switching time (0.25/0.18 s for bleaching/coloring) and is thus applicable in flexible displays. Moreover, this device demonstrates a large optical modulation of 76% at 630 nm and sustains 78.9% of its initial modulation even after 20 000 cycles, which is close to the commercial standard for rigid ECDs. The obtained rectangular Ag films are successfully assembled into a flexible all-solid-state ECD (21 × 13 cm 2 ), which can be utilized in smart windows, glasses and other fields that require bending or cutting.