Low-power, fast response simplified electrochromic device based on functionalized gel electrolyte

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2023-07, Vol.467, p.143400, Article 143400
• Main Authors: Xu, Lijuan, Li, Yangyang, Ji, Yuan, Zhang, Jichi, Shao, Lu, Zhang, Dawei, Ma, Lina, Gao, Guolin, Jiang, Zaixing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cathodic active species; Charge-transport kinetic; Electrochromic device; Functionalized gel electrolyte
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.143400

[Display omitted] •Metallo-supramolecular polymer-based electrochromic devices will become a promising platform for portable electronics.•Gel electrolytes functionalized by p-benzoquinone can effectively foster the electrochromic performance of devices.•Mixed-state p-benzoquinone was produced in gel electrolytes.•Mixed-state p-benzoquinone was involved in the electrochromic process of devices as cathodic species.•Synergistic effect of redox and complexation of p-benzoquinone were identified through experimental and DFT calculation. Metallo-supramolecular polymer (MEPE)-based thin film electrochromic devices (ECDs) have been considered to be a promising platform for portable electronics as their low cost, excellent redox properties, high optical contrast, and rich colors. However, poor cycle stability and slow response speed are serious bottlenecks for widespread commercial devices. Here, a gel electrolyte functionalized by the anodic active species p-benzoquinone (p-BQ) (GET-BQ) was reported. It has outstanding conductivity (∼4.62 mS cm−1) and transparency. Fe(Ⅱ)-MEPE-based ECDs incorporating the GET-BQ electrolyte (ECD-BQ) showed lower voltage operation (∼1.1 V), higher optical contrast (ca. ΔT ∼ 35.7%), faster response rate (tb ∼ 2.5 s, tc ∼ 0.3 s), and superb cycling durability (