Electrochemical and electrochromic behaviors of polyaniline-graphene oxide composites on the glass substrate/Ag nano-film electrodes prepared by vertical target pulsed laser deposition

• GS/Ag nano-film prepared easily by VTPLD was for the first time used as the conduct electrode in the reflective ECDs.
• The resistance values of GS/Ag nano-film with the particle size between 30 nm and 50 nm are lower than ITO glass which is usually used in the ECDs.
• The optimal GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO20 composites have the lowest color switching potential and the most obvious peak shift.
• We can use low energy to make GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO20 composites switch the color.
• GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO may open new direction in the development of the reflective ECDs.

Ag nano-film was prepared on the glass substrate (GS) by vertical target pulsed laser deposition (VTPLD). Polyaniline (PANI) and polyaniline-graphene oxide (PANI-GO) composite suspension were obtained through chemical oxidative polymerization and in situ polymerization. GS/Ag nano-film/PANI and GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO composites were obtained by czochralski method. The structure, molecular weight, morphology and conductivity of samples were studied by IR, XRD, MALDI-TOF-MS, SEM, TEM and digital multimeter. Electrochemical and electrochromical properties of PANI and PANI-GO composites on GS/Ag nano-film were studied by CV and UV–vis DRS. Results show compact and uniform Ag nano-film with the particle size between 30 nm and 50 nm was prepared by VTPLD successfully and resistance values are between 1 Ω and 5 Ω, lower than that of ITO glass (20 Ω). PANI-GO composites on GS/Ag nano-film prepared under the optimal laser power of 17 W has lower color switching potential and wider shift range of characteristic peaks than PANI, especially GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO20 composites which has the color switching potential of 0.175 V and 0.557 V, and the characteristic peak shifts from 430 nm to 402 nm with the increasing potential from 0.2 V to 0.8 V. The obtained GS/Ag nano-film is a candidate for application as the electrode in the reflective electrochromic device. We can use less energy to make GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO20 composites switch color.

Ag nano-film was prepared on the glass substrate (GS) by the method of vertical target pulsed laser deposition (VTPLD) and for the first time used as the conducting electrode in the reflective electrochromic devices (ECDs). Polyaniline and polyaniline-graphene oxide (PANI-GO) composites were respectively synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization and in situ polymerization. GS/Ag nano-film/PANI and GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO composites were obtained by the czochralski method. The results show that compact and uniform Ag nano-film with the particle size between 30 nm and 50 nm has been prepared on the GS by VTPLD successfully and its resistance values are lower than the ITO glass. PANI-GO composites have superior electrochemical and electrochromical performances compared to the pure PANI, especially the PANI-GO20 (the mass ratio of PANI/GO was 80:20) which shows lower color switching potential of 0.175 V and 0.557 V, and the characteristic peak shifts from 430 nm to 402 nm with the increasing potential from 0.2 V to 0.8 V. The obtained GS/Ag nano-film is a candidate for application as the electrode in the reflective electrochromic device. Less energy can be used to make GS/Ag nano-film/PANI-GO20 composites switch color.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide