• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.643-650
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• 2018

A self-powered electrochromic device was fabricated on an indium tin oxide-polyethylene naphthalate flexible substrate using a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) as a self-harvesting source; the electrochromic device was naturally bleached and operated under outdoor light conditions. The color of the organic electrochromic polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, was shifted from pale blue to deep blue with an antimony tin oxide film as a charge-balanced material. Electrochromic performance was enhanced by secondary doping using dimethyl sulfoxide. As a result, the device showed stable switching behavior with a high transmittance change difference of 40% at its specific wavelength of 630 nm for 6 hrs. To improve the efficiency of the solar cell, 1.0 wt.% of Ag NWs in the photoanode was applied to the $TiO_2$ photoanode. It resulted in an efficiency of 3.3%, leading to an operating voltage of 0.7 V under xenon lamp conditions. As a result, we built a standalone self-harvesting electrochromic system with the performance of transmittance switching of 29% at 630 nm, by connecting with two solar cells in a device. Thus, a self-harvesting and flexible device was fabricated to operate automatically under the irradiated/dark conditions.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.146-158
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• 2021

This paper reports the preparation of an ink-jet printed flexible electrochromic device based on a water-soluble viologen-functionalized dendrimer. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were modified with different concentrations of 1-1 bis(propylamine)-4,4'-bipyridylium dibromides to obtain solution-processable electrochromic materials (K1/2 and K1). FTIR, NMR, and elemental analyses are used to characterize synthesized viologens. Moreover, their electrochemical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry in an electrolyte solution consisting of 0.1 M HCl to find the optimum viologens. The low-cost ink-jet printer was used to print the prepared water-soluble electrochromic inks onto the ITO coated PET substrate to form desired transparent patterns. The electrolyte was applied on the printed electrochromic ink to make a sandwich with another ITO coated PET to prepare the electrochromic devices (ECD). By applying an electrical potential (0 to -2 V), the transparent ECD's color changed from colorless to blue. The color changes for the optimum ECD (K1), which had more viologen units on the dendrimer, was accompanied by an optical contrast of 47% and 311.5 ㎠C-1 coloration efficiency at 600 nm.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2020

Recently, electrochromic devices (ECDs) have gathered increasing attention owing to their high color contrast and memory effect, which make them highly applicable to smart windows, auto-dimming mirrors, sensors, etc. Traditional ECDs have a sandwich structure that contains an electrochromic layer between two ITO substrates. These sandwich-type devices are usually fabricated through the lamination of two electrodes and followed by the injection of a liquid electrolyte in the inner space. However, this process is sometimes complex and time consuming. In this study, we fabricated ECDs with a lateral electrode structure that uses only an ITO substrate and an all-in-one electrochromic gel, which is a mixture of electrolyte and electrochromic material. Furthermore, we investigated the EC properties of the lateral-type device by comparing it with a sandwich-type device. The lateral-type ECD shows strong blue absorption as the applied voltage increases and has a competitive coloration efficiency compared to the sandwich-type device.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2016

We demonstrate the electrochromic properties of $TiO_2$ nanotubes prepared by an anodization process and investigate the effects of heat treatment and viologen incorporation on them. The morphology and crystal structure of anodized $TiO_2$ nanotubes are investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. As-formed $TiO_2$ nanotubes have straight tubular layers with an amorphous structure. As the annealing temperature increases, the anodized $TiO_2$ nanotubes are converted to the anatase and rutile phases with some cracks on the tube surface and irregular morphology. Electrochemical results reveal that amorphous $TiO_2$ nanotubes annealed at $150^{\circ}C$ have the largest oxidation/reduction current, which leads to the best electrochromic performance during the coloring/bleaching process. Viologen-anchored $TiO_2$ nanotubes show superior electrochromic properties compared to pristine $TiO_2$ nanotubes, which indicates that the incorporation of a viologen can be an effective way to enhance the electrochromic properties of $TiO_2$ nanotubes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

According to the recent global warming, it is necessary to use energy efficiently together with eco-friendly energy. The development of alternative technologies is requisite for managing the current energy and climate crises. In this regard, "smart windows," which can control solar radiation, can be used to mitigate energy demands. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) effectively control the amount of solar energy reaching commercial and other living areas and maintain climate conditions via color modulation in response to small external stimuli, such as temperature and light irradiation. However, the performance and the stability of ECDs depend on the state of the electrolyte and sealing of the device. To resolve the aforementioned issues, an ECD was manufactured by using a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), and a laminating method was used to adequately seal the ECD. The concentrations of PMMA, acetonitrile (ACN), and ferrocene (Fc) were controlled to optimize the composition of the GPE to achieve an enhanced electrochromic performance. The fabricated GPE-based ECD afforded high optical contrast (~81.92%), with high electrochromic stability up to 10,000 cycles. Moreover, the lamination method employing the GPE could be used to fabricate large-area ECDs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.336-339
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• 1995

There has been considerable interest in electrochromic devices because of its potential application in automobiles including mirrors and windows. The electrochromic(EC) mirror can automatically control the amount of glare produced by headlights or other light source on either inside or outside mirrors. Therefore, the EC mirror can be a better alternative to todays day-night mirrors for automobiles. In this paper we have fabricated all solid state EC mirrors with glass-ITO / a-WO$_3$/ polymer electrolyte / a-V$_2$O$\sub$5/ / ITO-glass / Al structure and investigated their spectral reflectance as a function of applied voltage.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 1995.05a
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• pp.41-44
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• 1995

The electrochromic WO$_3$ thin films were prepared by using an electron - beam evaporation technique. The influence of the electron - beam evaporation conditions. especially the vacuum pressure, and resistance of ITO substrate on the structural and electrochromic properties of the investigated film was presented. This films showed electrochromic behavior in an aqueous electrolyte of 1 M H$_2$SO$_4$. Among these WO$_3$ thin films, films prepared at a vacuum pressure of 10$^{-4}$ mbar were found to be most stable in terms of cycling durability. The chemical stability of film against dissolution in the aqueous solution was also shown to depend on the quantity of water in the film.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.48-59
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• 2000

Electrochromic NiO films were prepared by using an electron-beam deposition method. The influence of the preparation conditions, especially the substrate temperature, on the electrochemical stability of film was investigated. The optical properties and stability of as-deposited films strongly depended on the substrate temperature during deposition. The NiO film prepared at a substrate temperature of 150~$200^{\circ}C$ was found to be the stabel when subjected to 5000cycles in a 0.5M solution of KOH between -6.0 and +0.8V. The best electrochromic parameters after 5000cycles were obtained for samples with substrate temperature of $150^{\circ}C$. The obtained electrochromic parameters are CE=-0.049($\lambda$=550nm), $\Delta$OD=0.88($\lambda$=550nm)$\textrm{cm}^2$/mC, Qin=-18.11mC/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and Qleft= 14.8mC/$\textrm{cm}^2$.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.469-478
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• 2016

In this paper, we investigate the effects of pre-reducing Sb-doped $SnO_2$ (ATO) electrodes in viologen-anchored $TiO_2$ (VTO) nanostructure-based electrochromic devices. We find that by pre-reducing an ATO electrode, the operating voltage of a VTO nanostructure-based electrochromic device can be lowered; consequently, such a device can be operated more stably with less hysteresis. Further, we find that a pre-reduction of the ATO electrode does not affect the coloration efficiency of such a device. The aforementioned effects of a pre-reduction are attributed to the fact that a pre-reduced ATO electrode is more compatible with a VTO nanostructure-based electrochromic device than a non-pre-reduced ATO electrode, because of the initial oxidized state of the other electrode of the device, that is, a VTO nanostructure-based electrode. The oxidation state of a pre-reduced ATO electrode plays a very important role in the operation of a VTO nanostructure-based electrochromic device because it strongly influences charge movement during electrochromic switching.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.87-91
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• 2019

We report on stretchable electrochromic films of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) fabricated on silver nanowire (AgNW) electrodes. AgNWs electrodes are prepared on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates using a spray coater for stretchable electrochromic applications. On top of the AgNW electrode, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is introduced to ensure a stable resistance over the electrode under broad strain range by effectively suppressing the protrusion of AgNWs from PDMS. This bilayer electrode exhibits a high performance as a stretchable substrate in terms of sheet resistance increment by a factor of 1.6, tensile strain change to 40 %, and stretching cycles to 100 cycles. Furthermore, P3HT film spin-coated on the bilayer electrode shows a stable electrochromic coloration within an applied voltage, with a color contrast of 28.6 %, response time of 4-5 sec, and a coloration efficiency of $91.0cm^2/C$. These findings indicate that AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS bilayer on PDMS substrate electrode is highly suitable for transparent and stretchable electrochromic devices.