A simple chemical method for deposition of electrochromic Prussian blue thin films

This paper is about a recently developed new chemical method for deposition of Prussian blue thin films. The films are easily prepared by successive immersion of the substrates into an acidic aqueous solution of Fe2(SO4)3 and K4[Fe(CN)6]. It is calculated of the results from AFM analysis that the growth in the film thickness by one immersion cycle corresponds to an average increase of 6 nm. The characterization of the films with X-ray diffraction, SEM–EDS analysis and FTIR spectroscopy shows that the deposited material is amorphous hydrated Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3. The electrochromic properties are characterized by cyclic voltammetry and VIS spectrophotometry. The PB thin films exhibit stability and excellent reversibility, which make these films favorable for electrochromic devices.

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► Prussian blue thin films were prepared by a simple chemical deposition method.
► The films can be easily prepared from aqueous solution of Fe2(SO4)3 and K4[Fe(CN)6].
► The films show good electrochromic properties.
► They change from deep blue color into green, and then back to blue and colorless.
► The PB thin films exhibit stability and excellent reversibility.