A complementary electrochromic system based on a Prussian blue thin film and a heptyl viologen solution

A complementary electrochromic device (ECD) based on a Prussian blue (PB) thin film and a heptyl viologen (HV(BF4)2) solution was assembled and studied. An equal-volume mixture of deionized water and isopropanol solution saturated with potassium ions was used as the electrolyte solution. The structure of a PB-HV(BF4)2-based ECD (PHECD) can be formulated as (ITO/PB/HV(BF4)2 in solution/ITO), and can be switched reversibly between blue and colorless states. The time required to darken the device depends on the applied potential and the charge capacity of the PB film. A blue film was formed evenly on the bare ITO surface by deposition of HV+ during darkening of the PHECD. Under application of 0 V, it took a longer time to bleach the PHECD, due to re-oxidation and diffusion of the HV+ species back into the solution. A maximum transmittance window of 59% was obtained at 609 nm with the operating potentials of 1.0 V for darkening and 0 V for bleaching. No pre-darkening or pre-bleaching of the electrodes was needed for assembly of the PHECD.

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► A hybrid electrochromic device (ECD) with a large optical attenuation was studied.
► The ECD consisted of a Prussian blue (PB) thin film and a heptyl viologen (HV) solution.
► The darkening time depended on the applied potential and the charge capacity of PB.
► The bleaching time depended on the diffusion of the HV+ species back into the solution.
► A maximum transmittance change (ΔT) of 59% was obtained at 609 nm.