Conducting polymer/silver nanowires stacking composite films for high-performance electrochromic devices

Abstract

Conducting polymers (CPs) are promising candidates for next-generation electrochromic (EC) materials due to their excellent processability, flexibility, multicolor changes, easy design, low cost and low operation potential. However, the relatively low optical contrast, slow switching speed, and poor cycling performance hinder their practical applications for more than forty years. Here, electrochromic polymer (ECP)/silver nanowires (AgNWs) stacking composite films on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass are built as electrodes to facilitate the diffusion and migration of ions in electrochromic devices (ECDs). Notably, the presence of AgNWs network plays a critical role to improve electrical conductivity, benefit ions doping and dedoping, increase surface area, and reduce applied potential. As a result, the EC performance of ECP/AgNWs nanocomposite device is significantly improved, which exhibits a highly optical contrast, short response time, and stable cycling. This study suggests that rational design of stacking nanocomposite micromorphology on electrode level might be a useful strategy for fabricating high performance ECDs.