Solid electrolytes for electrochromic devices based on reversible metal electrodeposition

Air conditioning and lighting costs can be reduced substantially by changing the optical properties of “intelligent windows.” The electrochromic devices studied to date have used copper as an additive. Copper, used here as an electrochromic material, was dissolved in an aqueous animal protein-derived gel electrolyte. This combination constitutes the electrochromic system for reversible electrodeposition. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometric and chromogenic analyses indicated that were obtained good conditions of transparency (initial transmittance of 70%), optical reversibility, small potential window (2.1 V), variation of transmittance in visible light (63.6%) and near infrared (20%) spectral regions. Permanence in the darkened state was achieved by maintaining a lower pulse potential (−0.16 V) than the deposition potential (−1.0 V). Increasing the number of deposition and dissolution cycles favored the transmittance and photoelectrochemical reversibility of the device. The conductivity of the electrolyte (10−3 S/cm) at several concentrations of CuCl2 was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the good thermal stability of the electrolyte, since the mass loss detected up to 100 °C corresponded to water evaporation and decomposition of the gel started only at 200 °C. Micrographic and small angle X-ray scattering analyses indicated the formation of a persistent deposit of copper particles on the ITO.