Zr–Ce oxides as candidates for optically passive counter electrodes

Abstract

Zr–Ce oxide films with compositions from pure Zr oxide to pure Ce oxide were made by reactive DC magnetron co-sputtering. The composition and structure were determined by Rutherford backscattering and X-ray diffraction. Pure Ce oxide films have high charge capacity and are optically passive under charge insertion; they are, however, chemically unstable in an electrolyte of LiClO 4 in propylene carbonate. Pure Zr oxide has practically zero charge capacity. Zr–Ce oxide films have high (above 80%) optical transmittance, high charge capacity, and good chemical stability. These films remain fully transparent irrespective of their degree of lithiation, which may be reconciled with electrons accommodating 4f states of Ce.