Utilizing water hyacinth extract as an eco‐friendly electrolyte substitute for electrochromic devices

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, an entirely biodegradable and cations‐rich Water hyacinth (WH) (Eichhorniacrassipes) extract is used as the electrolyte in electrochromic devices. The active electrodes are fabricated by applying a layer of nanocrystalline orthorhombic WO3 onto 5 × 5 cm2 fluorinated tin oxide plates using an indigenous formulation. The electrolyte utilized is the juice derived from WH plants without any modifications. The devices exhibit a transmission contrast of around 46% and 82% at wavelengths of 600 nm and >1000 nm, respectively, between the colored and bleached states. Additionally, they have a rapid coloration/bleaching time of 10 and 4.6 s with coloration efficiency value around 52 cm2/C. Investigations have indicated that the electrolyte's sodium ion concentration is likely the key behind the electrochromic process in this system. Using pectin as a natural gelling agent results in the formation of a gel polymer electrolyte that is mechanically resilient. The electrochromic systems created utilizing this electrolyte exhibit exceptional cyclic stability, lasting for 16 000 s of uninterrupted voltage sweep.