Electrochromic device containing color-tunable nanostructures
An electrochromic device and method, the device including: a first transparent conductor layer; a working electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor layer and including nanostructures; a counter electrode; a solid state electrolyte layer disposed between the counter electrode and the working electrode; and a second transparent conductor layer disposed on the counter electrode. The nanostructures may include transition metal oxide nanoparticles and/or nanocrystals configured to tune the color of the device by selectively modulating the transmittance of near-infrared (NIR) and visible radiation as a function of an applied voltage to the device.
1. An electrochromic device, comprising: a first transparent conductor layer; a working electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor layer and comprising tungsten oxide nanoparticles having a cubic crystal lattice structure and a niobium oxide containing material; a counter electrode; an electrolyte layer disposed between the counter electrode and the working electrode; and a second transparent conductor layer disposed on the counter electrode, wherein:
the electrochromic device has a transmitted haze of less than about 1.0%;
in a bright mode the electrochromic device transmits at least 50% of received visible light; and
in a dark mode the electrochromic device transmits 5% or less of received visible light.
2. The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise (WO 3-x ) nanoparticles, where 0≤x≤0.33.
3. The electrochromic device of claim 2 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise (WO 3-x ) nanoparticles, where 0≤x≤0.17.
4. The electrochromic device of claim 3 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles comprise WO 3 nanoparticles.
5. The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the tungsten oxide nanoparticles have an average particle size of from about 4 nm to about 6 nm.
6. The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the niobium oxide containing material has the formula Nb 2 O 5-x , wherein 0<=x≤=0.1.
7. The electrochromic device of claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer configured to reduce degradation of the working electrode due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
8. The electrochromic device of claim 1 , wherein the counter electrode comprises at least one selected from: CeO 2 ; CeVO 2 ; TiO 2 ; indium tin oxide; indium oxide; nickel oxide; tin oxide; manganese or antimony doped tin oxide; aluminum doped zinc oxide; zinc oxide; gallium zinc oxide; indium gallium zinc oxide; molybdenum doped indium oxide; Fe 2 O 3 ; and V 2 O 5 .
9. The electrochromic device of claim 8 , wherein the counter electrode comprises CeO 2 , indium oxide and nickel oxide.