Use of different metal oxide coatings in stainless steel based ECDs for smart textiles

Rozman, Martin (author), Cetin, Nikolina (author), Bren, Urban (author), Lukšič, Miha (author)

Electrochromism is the ability of a material to selectively change its coloration under the influence of an external electric current/potential and maintain it even after the power source has been disconnected. Devices that use such a mechanism are known as electrochromic devices (ECDs). Over the years, significant effort has been invested into the development of flexible ECDs. Such electrochromic tapes or fibers can be used as smart textiles. Recently, we utilized a novel geometrical approach in assembling electrochromic tapes which does not require the use of optically transparent electrodes. The so-called inverted sandwich ECD configuration can employ various colorchanging mechanisms, e.g., intercalation, redox reactions of electrolytes or reactions on electrode surfaces. One of the most frequently used electrochromic metal oxides is WO$_3$. However, other metal oxides with different coloration responses also exist. In this paper, we explore the use of V$_2$O$_5$ and TiO$_2$ in metal-tape-based ECDs in the inverted sandwich configuration and compare their performance with WO$_3$-based devices. Morphological features of metal oxide thin layers were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the performance of the tapes was investigated electrochemically and spectroscopically. We demonstrate that well-established preparation techniques (e.g., sol–gel synthesis) along with coating approaches (e.g., dipping) are adequate to prepare optically nontransparent fiber electrodes. Depending on the metal oxide, flexible electrochromic fiber devices exhibiting different coloration patterns can be assembled. Devices with TiO$_2$ showed little coloration response, while much better performance was achieved in the case of V$_2$O$_5$ and WO$_3$ ECDs.

• Language: English
• Keywords: electrochromism, thin film, metal oxide, intercalation, inverted sandwich, stainless steel
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, iss. 20, art. 2529
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136227
• UDC: 544.5/.6
• ISSN on article: 2079-9292
• DOI: 10.3390/electronics10202529
• COBISS.SI-ID: 81086211
• Publication date in RUL: 20.04.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Electronics
• Shortened title: Electronics
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2079-9292
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523068953

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 17.10.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: elektrokromiranje, interkalacija, nerjaveče jeklo

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0201
• Name: Fizikalna kemija

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: J1-2471
• Name: Kemijska karcinogeneza: mehanistični vpogled