Electrochromic properties of large-area and high-density arrays of transparent one-dimensional β-Ta2O5 nanorods on indium-tin-oxide thin-films

We report on the synthesis, crystalline structure, and electrochromic properties of transparent one-dimensional (1D) orthorhombic (beta) Ta2O5 nanorods grown in a large-area high-density array. The transparent 1D beta-Ta2O5 nanorod array was synthesized on a conducting indium-tin-oxide thin-film via hot-filament metal-oxide vapor deposition. The array contained similar to 1900 beta-Ta2O5 nanorods per square micrometer, which were on average, similar to 17 nm wide and similar to 300 nm long. The good coloration/bleaching cycles, large ion-diffusion coefficient (similar to 2.35 x 10(-8) cm(2)/s), and high reversibility (similar to 79.8%) demonstrate that the 1D beta-Ta2O5 nanorods to be a potential electrochromic material for electrochromic devices or smart windows. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3568896]