A Transparent Multidimensional Electrode with Indium Tin Oxide Nanofibers and Gold Nanoparticles for Bistable Electrochromic Devices

Due to the high energy efficiency and a wide range of potential applications in daily life, bistable electrochromic devices (BECDs) have gained extensive attention in recent years. However, poor bistability and slow response rate are the main barriers, which restrict the development of BECDs. Herein, a transparent multidimensional electrode with indium tin oxide (ITO) nanofibers and gold nanoparticles was fabricated to improve both the bistability and responsiveness of devices. Its criss-crossed ITO nanofibers with high length-to-diameter ratios to reduce the distance of heterogeneous electron transfer and its gold nanoparticles to form a stable Au–S bond to avoid self-erasing of electrochromic materials have been demonstrated and discussed systematically. This device based on the transparent multidimensional working electrode had a shorter response time (1/5) and a longer bistability (12/1) compared with the prototype devices based on common fluorine-doped tin oxide electrodes. Besides, this device had a promising electrochromic performance with a high coloration efficiency of 448.27 cm2/C and a switching stability with no significant attenuation after 1200 cycles.