Rapid Electrochromic Electrode Prepared with Composite Nanorods Using a Two-Stage Hydrothermal Method

Abstract

A two-stage hydrothermal method was used to prepare rapid-switching electrochromic WO3/ZnO composite electrodes. The morphology of the nanorods was altered by changing the precursor concentration. A higher precursor concentration inhibited the growth of crystals and declined the crystallinity of nanorods. Nanorods with a diameter of 48 nm, height of 92.5 nm, and transmittance greater than 80% were grown when the precursor concentration in the second step was 1.5 times that in the first step. The electrochromic electrode demonstrated rapid coloring and bleaching speeds (5 and 0.8 s, respectively), which were faster than those of the electrode prepared using the one-stage process.