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Journal of Advanced Ceramics 2023, 12(3): 634-648 https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220711
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 15 February 2023

Constructed TiO2/WO3 heterojunction with strengthened nano-trees structure for highly stable electrochromic energy storage device

Show Author's Information Lili Zhaoa,  Zhuoan Caia,  Xiaoyang Wangb,  Wenbo Liaoa,  Simin Huanga,c,  Lingyun Yea,  Jilie Fanga,  Chunxing Wua,  Hao Qiua,  Lei Miaob( )
School of Chemical Engineering and Energy Technology, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials, Engineering Research Center of Electronic Information Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin 541004, China
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Distributed Energy Systems, Dongguan 523808, China
Keywords:
energy storage, cycle stability, electrochromic (EC), WO3 nano-trees, TiO2 nanorod arrays (TiO2 NRAs)
Cite this article:
Zhao L, Cai Z, Wang X, et al. Constructed TiO2/WO3 heterojunction with strengthened nano-trees structure for highly stable electrochromic energy storage device. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2023, 12(3): 634-648. https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220711
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) has been widely regarded as a prospective bifunctional material due to its electrochromic and pseudocapacitive properties, while still facing the dilemma of inadequate cycle stability and trapping-induced degradation. Here, inspired by the trees-strengthening approach, a unique titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorod arrays strengthened WO3 nano-trees (TWNTs) heterojunction was rationally designed and constructed. In sharp contrast to the transmittance modulation (ΔT) attenuation of primary WO3 nano-trees during cycling, the TWNTs film showed not only excellent electrochromic performance but also fascinating cycle stability (77.35% retention of the initial ΔT after 10,000 cycles). Besides, the trapping-induced degradation could be easily rejuvenated by a potentiostatic de-trapping process. An electrochromic energy storage device (EESD) was further assembled based on the TWNTs film to deliver excellent ΔT (up to 79.5% at 633 nm), fast switching speed (tc/tb =1.9 s/14.8 s), extremely high coloration efficiency value (443.4 cm2·C−1), and long-term cycle stability (over 10,000 charge/discharge cycles). This innovative study provided in-depth insights into the electrochromism nature and a significant step in the realization of stable electrochromic-energy storage application, paving the way for multifunctional smart windows as well as next-generation optoelectronic devices.


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Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Constructed TiO2/WO3 heterojunction with strengthened nano-trees structure for highly stable electrochromic energy storage device

Show Author's information Lili Zhaoa, Zhuoan Caia, Xiaoyang Wangb, Wenbo Liaoa, Simin Huanga,c, Lingyun Yea, Jilie Fanga, Chunxing Wua, Hao Qiua, Lei Miaob( )
School of Chemical Engineering and Energy Technology, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials, Engineering Research Center of Electronic Information Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin 541004, China
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Distributed Energy Systems, Dongguan 523808, China

Abstract

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) has been widely regarded as a prospective bifunctional material due to its electrochromic and pseudocapacitive properties, while still facing the dilemma of inadequate cycle stability and trapping-induced degradation. Here, inspired by the trees-strengthening approach, a unique titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorod arrays strengthened WO3 nano-trees (TWNTs) heterojunction was rationally designed and constructed. In sharp contrast to the transmittance modulation (ΔT) attenuation of primary WO3 nano-trees during cycling, the TWNTs film showed not only excellent electrochromic performance but also fascinating cycle stability (77.35% retention of the initial ΔT after 10,000 cycles). Besides, the trapping-induced degradation could be easily rejuvenated by a potentiostatic de-trapping process. An electrochromic energy storage device (EESD) was further assembled based on the TWNTs film to deliver excellent ΔT (up to 79.5% at 633 nm), fast switching speed (tc/tb =1.9 s/14.8 s), extremely high coloration efficiency value (443.4 cm2·C−1), and long-term cycle stability (over 10,000 charge/discharge cycles). This innovative study provided in-depth insights into the electrochromism nature and a significant step in the realization of stable electrochromic-energy storage application, paving the way for multifunctional smart windows as well as next-generation optoelectronic devices.

Keywords: energy storage, cycle stability, electrochromic (EC), WO3 nano-trees, TiO2 nanorod arrays (TiO2 NRAs)

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Publication history

Received: 06 September 2022
Revised: 03 December 2022
Accepted: 23 December 2022
Published: 15 February 2023
Issue date: March 2023

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© The Author(s) 2022.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Scientific Research and Technology Development Program of Guangxi (No. ZY21195037), Dongguan Social Science and Technology Development Key Project (No. 20221800905142), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2019A1515111048), Doctoral Start Up Fund of Dongguan University of Technology (No. GC300501-078), Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials (Guilin University of Electronic Technology, China) (No. 211013-K), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Distributed Energy Systems (No. 2020B1212060075).

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