Development of WO3 thin films using nanoscale silicon particles

The WO3-x-0.1TiO(2-y) thin films prepared by the sol-gel route exhibit increased lifetime and stability. A sol-gel solution mixed with nanoscopic silicon oxide particles (40 nm, 200 nm) was spin-coated onto an indium tin oxide (ITO)-covered glass substrate followed by further surface development by chemical etching. A significantly faster response Lime of the electrochromic cell due to the increase of the surface area of the WO3/electrolyte interface and enhancement of the lithium ion diffusion rate have been obtained. The coloration efficiency was found to be much higher in the areas surrounding incorporated nanoscale particles.