Spray deposited CeO2–TiO2 counter electrode for electrochromic devices

Optically passive thin films of CeO2–TiO2 mixed oxides with molar ratio of Ce/Ti of 0.05 were deposited by the spray pyrolysis technique (SPT) on a glass and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates. Precursor solution containing cerium nitrate hexahydrate (Ce(NO3)2⋅6H2O) and titanium tetraiso-propoxide (Ti(OiPr)4) having different volumetric proportions (0–5 vol% of Ti) in methanol were used. These films were characterized for structural, morphological, molecular, optical, electrochromic and colourimetric analysis. CeO2–TiO2 films deposited at 400 ∘ C were found to be polycrystalline with cubic fluorite crystal structure. Transformation from polycrystalline to amorphous phase was observed with increasing TiO2 content. The band centred at 539 cm−1 is assigned to Ce–O stretching vibration and the two medium intensity bands assigned to (Ti–O) and (Ti–O–Ti) stretching modes at 798 and 451 cm−1, which confirms the mixed CeO2 and TiO2 phases. The band gap energy decreases (E g) from 3.45 eV for pristine CeO2 to 2.98–3.09 eV for CeO2–TiO2 films. The ion storage capacity (ISC) of CeO2–TiO2 thin film with 3 vol% Ti (Ce–Ti3 sample) was found to be 26 mC cm−2 and electrochemical stability up to 30,000 cycles in 0.5 M LiClO4-PC electrolyte. The optically passive behaviour of CeO2–TiO2 thin film is confirmed by its negligible transmission modulation (Δ T ∼ 2.5%) upon Li+ ion insertion/extraction, irrespective of the extent of Li+ ion intercalation. The optical modulation of sputter deposited electrochromic WO 3 thin film was found to be enhanced from 56 to 61% with rapid increase in colouration efficiency (CE) from 42 to 231 cm2 C−1 when CeO2–TiO2 is coupled as a counter electrode with WO3 in an electrochromic device (ECD). On reduction of WO3 thin film with CeO2–TiO2 as counter electrode, the CIELAB 1931 2 ∘ colour space coordinates show the transition from colourless to the deep blue state (L ∗ = 88.07, a ∗ = −2.37, b ∗ = 24.59 and L ∗ = 40.32, a ∗ = −1.16, b ∗ = −5.65) with steady decrease in relative lightness. Yxy and L ∗ a ∗ b ∗ coordinates signify CeO2–TiO2 films and it also exhibits the application as counter electrode in electrochromic smart windows in which they are able to retain their transparency under charge insertion/extraction.