Technology and application of transition metal oxide of W-V-O as functional layers and NiO thin films as counter electrode material in electrochromic "Smart Windows"

The present study is related to preparation and investigation of mixed W-V-O films, deposited on conductive glass substrates by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition. The presence of lower-temperature precursor V(CO)(6) lead to faster growing of the mixed oxide film. The results show two times higher growth-rate compared to single oxide of WO3. The color efficiency calculated is 20 cm(2)/C, optical modulation 65.2%. Vibrational spectra studied by Raman and FTIR spectroscopy show Raman peaks and absorption bands revealing monoclinic WO3 and orthorhombic V2O5 phases, separately existing in the mixed oxide film structure. The surface morphology is observed by AFM. Films transmittance and reflectance characterization are performed. For the counter electrode in the EC, NiO films are deposited electrochemically. The UV-VIS-NIR optical measurements performed in the spectral range of 300 - 1000 nm show that films possess transmittance in the range of 70% - 85%. This high transmittance of the counter electrode film would contribute to the needed high initial optical transmittance of the "smart window". (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.