Electrochromic nickel oxide films and their compatibility with potassium hydroxide and lithium perchlorate in propylene carbonate: Optical, electrochemical and stress-related properties

• Ni oxide films were studied in KOH and in LiClO4 + propylene carbonate (Li–PC).
• Good electrochromism was found in both electrolytes.
• In KOH, tensile/compressive stresses were seen in bleached/colored films.
• In Li–PC, compressive stress was seen both in colored and bleached films.

Porous nickel oxide films were deposited onto unheated indium tin oxide coated glass substrates by reactive dc magnetron sputtering. These films had a cubic NiO structure. Electrochromic properties were evaluated in 1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) and in 1 M lithium perchlorate in propylene carbonate (Li–PC). Large optical modulation was obtained for ~ 500-nm-thick films both in KOH and in Li–PC (~ 70% and ~ 50% at 550 nm, respectively). In KOH, tensile and compressive stresses, due to the expansion and contraction of the lattice, were found for films in their bleached and colored state, respectively. In Li–PC, compressive stress was seen both in colored and bleached films. Durability tests with voltage sweeps between − 0.5 and 0.65 V vs Ag/AgCl in KOH showed good durability for 10,000 cycles, whereas voltage sweeps between 2.0 and 4.7 V vs Li/Li+ in Li–PC yielded significant degradation after 1000 cycles.