Electrochromic performance of nanocomposite nickel oxide counter electrodes containing lithium and zirconium

Feng Lin, Manuel Montano, Chixia Tian, Yazhou Ji, Dennis Nordlund, Tsu Chien Weng, Rob G. Moore, Dane T. Gillaspie, Kim M. Jones, Anne C. Dillon, Ryan M. Richards, Chaiwat Engtrakul

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nickel oxide materials are suitable for counter electrodes in complementary electrochromic devices. The state-of-the-art nickel oxide counter electrode materials are typically prepared with multiple additives to enhance peformance. Herein, nanocomposite nickel oxide counter electrodes were fabricated via RF magnetron co-sputtering from Ni-Zr alloy and Li2O ceramic targets. The as-deposited nanocomposite counter electrodes were characterized with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). It was found that the stoichiometry, crystal structure and electronic structure of the nickel oxide-based materials could be readily tuned by varying the Li2O sputter deposition power level. Comprehensive electrochromic evaluation demonstrated that the performance of the nickel oxide-based materials was dependent on the overall Li stoichiometry. Overall, the nanocomposite nickel oxide counter electrode containing lithium and zirconium synthesized with a Li2O deposition power of 45 W exhibited the optimal performance with an optical modulation of 71% and coloration efficiency of 30 cm2/C at 670 nm in Li-ion electrolyte.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-212
Number of pages7
JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume126
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2014
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This paper is dedicated to the loving memory of Anne C. Dillon. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract number DE-AC36-08-GO28308 with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as part of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of Building Technologies Program . Portions of this research were carried out at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, a national user facility operated by Stanford University on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. F. Lin and C. Engtrakul would like to acknowledge D. Weir, N. Sbar, and J.-C. Giron (Sage Electrochromics) for precious discussion.

FundersFunder number
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of Building Technologies Program
U.S. Department of EnergyDE-AC36-08-GO28308
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Keywords

    • Electrochromic
    • Li stoichiometry
    • Nanocomposite
    • Nickel oxide
    • Oxidation state

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