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Polymer-free gel electrolyte and its application in TiO2-based electrochromic devices

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Abstract

Electrochromic devices based on polymer-free gel electrolytes (PFGEs) offer several advantages over polymer electrolytes. The preparation and characterization of a novel fumed silica-based PFGE and its applications in TiO2 electrochromic devices (ECD) were the main aims of the present study. First, a series of liquid electrolytes were prepared by mixing lithium chloride (LiCl) and ethylene Glycol (EG) with different molar ratios and their ionic conductivities were measured to get an idea about the highest ionic conductivity composition. The total oxygen atoms of EG to lithium ions of LiCl molar ratio (O:Li+) was altered from 5:1 to 80:1. The highest ionic conductivity was observed for 15: 1 molar ratio with the value being the 1.28 × 10− 2 S cm− 1. This optimized composition was selected for preparing PFGE. In order to prepare PFGE, 10 wt% of fumed silica from the total weight of EG and LiCl were added to the optimized liquid electrolyte EG/LiCl as the polymer-free gelling agent. The maximum ionic conductivity was found in O:Li = 10: 1, with the value being 8.94 × 10− 3 S cm− 1. ECDs were prepared by sandwiching this PFGE between TiO2 electrochromic electrode and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) counter-electrode with the configuration of FTO/TiO2/PFGE/FTO. Notable electrochromic properties of TiO2-coated FTO with higher optical modulation of 64% at 700 nm and 33% at 550 nm by applying 4.2 V and a switching speed of Tbleaching= 42.5 s and Tcoloring= 16.7 s were observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka

    H. M. B. I. Gunathilaka & V. A. Seneviratne

  2. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka

    V. A. Seneviratne

  3. Department of Physical Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, 70140, Sri Lanka

    H. N. M. Sarangika

  4. Industrial Technology Institute, Colombo, 00700, Sri Lanka

    H. M. B. I. Gunathilaka

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HMBIG did the experimental part under the supervision of HNMS and VAS, HMBIG wrote the draft manuscript and HNMS, and VAS corrected the manuscript. HNMS prepared the figures and graphical abstract.

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Correspondence to H. N. M. Sarangika.

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Gunathilaka, H.M.B.I., Seneviratne, V.A. & Sarangika, H.N.M. Polymer-free gel electrolyte and its application in TiO2-based electrochromic devices. J Appl Electrochem 53, 2185–2196 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-023-01912-0

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