In this article, we report the preparation of a TiO nanotube array (TNA) film used as a transparent electrochromic material and a TNA/polyaniline patterned hybrid electrochromic film utilized as an information display material. The TNA film was fabricated by an anodizing process, and a surface patterned TNA with extreme wettability contrast (hydrophilic/hydrophobic) on a TNA surface through self-assembly (SAM) and photocatalytic lithography is fabricated. Then the TNA/polyaniline hybrid film was prepared by electrodeposition of aniline in an aqueous solution. Finally, the electrochromic properties of the TNA film and the TNA/polyaniline hybrid film were investigated. Compared with neat TNA film and polyaniline (PANI) films, the hybrid film shows a much higher optical contrast in the near infrared range. The TNA/polyaniline hybrid film shows higher coloration efficiencies of 24.4 cm C at a wavelength of 700 nm and 17.1 cm C at a wavelength of 1050 nm compared to the TNA coloration efficiency. The color switching time (20.9 s or 22.9 s) of TNA/polyaniline is faster than TNA.
For the first time, a crystalline-amorphous double-layered NiO film has been prepared by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. This film has exhibited improved electrochemical cycling durability, whereas other electrochromic parameters have been maintained at the required level, namely, a short coloration/bleaching time (0.8 s/1.1 s) and an enhanced transmittance modulation range (62.2 %) at λ=550 nm. Additionally, the double-layered film has shown better reversibility than that of amorphous and crystalline single-layered films.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.