Polymer Electrolytes for Electrochromic Windows

Self-Driven Electrochromic Window System Cu/WOx-Al3+/GR with Dynamic Optical Modulation and Static Graph Display Functions

“…12,13 Practical applications of electrochromic windows require ionic conductivity of the electrolyte at least 10 −5 S/cm, which is much less than that for the Li-ion battery system (typically 10 −4 −10 −3 S/cm). 14,15 Recently, a new class of electrochromic windows using active metal anodes (Al, Mg, Zn, Fe) was reported by some laboratories. 17−26 In these window prototypes, the opaque anode was concealed in the window-frame parts, and the electrochromic cathode (inorganic metal oxide and/or organic conducting polymer) was immersed in an aqueous mixed electron/ion conducting electrolyte (as illustrated in Figure S1b).…”

“…Electrochromic windows have been in development for decades and are currently the most promising energy-saving technology that is utilized for controlling the indoor lighting and temperature by applying external electric potentials (1–5 V). − The energy consumption of an electrochromic window is usually around 8 W/m 2 , and its colored states can be retained without additional energy input due to the considerable open-circuit memory. , An electrochromic window is essentially an optical film storage battery consisting of a transparent, electronically insulating electrolyte, which is sandwiched between the cathode electrochromic (EC) layer and anode ion-storage (IS) layer (as illustrated in Figure S1a). − The anode IS layer employed should be able to provide a reversible half-cell reaction for balancing charges within the cathode electrochromic layer and remain optically transparent in its bleached state. As the cathode EC layer (typically 100–1000 nm) has to be thin enough to reduce the light absorption, the amount of storable energy in such a transmission-type optical modulator is usually small.…”

“…As the cathode EC layer (typically 100–1000 nm) has to be thin enough to reduce the light absorption, the amount of storable energy in such a transmission-type optical modulator is usually small. During the charge–discharge processes, the electrochromic window can dynamically modulate its optical behaviors upon the exchange of ion/electron pairs {M α+ /αe – } between the cathode and anode: [EC, x {M α+ /αe – }] + IS ↔ EC + [IS, x {M α+ /αe – }], where M α+ is a mobile guest ion from the electrolyte, usually the Li ion. , Practical applications of electrochromic windows require ionic conductivity of the electrolyte at least 10 –5 S/cm, which is much less than that for the Li-ion battery system (typically 10 –4 –10 –3 S/cm). , …”

P(AMPS‐co‐PEGMA)‐doped and PVDF‐HFP‐enhanced stretchable polymer electrolytes: application as flexible electrochromic devices

“…Polymer electrolytes are widely used in lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, electrochromic devices and other electrochemical components due to their security, environmental friendliness, flexibility, etc. [1][2][3] The polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based gel polymer electrolyte is a typical example of polymer electrolytes. However, the highly ordered structure makes linear PEO have high crystallinity, which leads to hinderance of ionic conductivity (IC).…”