Physical Simulation Model of WO₃ Electrochromic Films Based on Continuous Electron-Transfer Kinetics and Experimental Verification

Tungsten oxide (WO3) electrochromic devices have attracted a lot of interest in the energy conservation field and have shown a preliminary application potential in the market. However, it is difficult to quantitatively direct experiments with the existing electrochromic theoretical models, which can restrict the further development of electrochromism. Here, an electrochromic physical simulation model of WO3 films was built to solve the above problem. Experimentally, the actual electrochromic kinetics of WO3 in the LiClO4/propylene carbonate electrolyte was determined as a continuous electron-transfer process by cyclic voltammetry measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Theoretically, the continuous electron-transfer process, Li+-ion diffusion process, and the transmittance change process were described by a modified Butler–Volmer equation, Fick’s law, and charge versus coloration efficiency/bleaching efficiency coupling equation, respectively. The comparisons between theoretical and experimental data were conducted to verify this model. The shape of the simulated current curves was basically consistent with that of experiments. Besides, the difference of transmittance between the simulation and experiments was less than 8%. The difference between theory and experiment was attributed to the influence of the electric double layer and the actual reaction interface. The success of the simulation was attributed to the accurate description of the electrochromic process by continuous electron-transfer kinetics. This model can be applied in the research of electrochromic mechanisms, experimental result prediction, and novel device development due to its clear physical nature.