Ultrafast electrochromic windows based on redox-chromophore modified nanostructured semiconducting and conducting films

Described is the construction of an ultrafast electrochromic window. One electrode of this window is based on a transparent nanostructured TiO2 (anatase) film (4.0 mum. thick) supported on conducting glass (F-doped tin oxide, 10 Ohm cm(-2), 0.5 mum thick) and modified by chemisorption of a monolayer of the redox chromophore bis(2-phosphonoethyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride. The other electrode is based on a transparent nanostructured SnO2 film (3.0 mum thick) supported on conducting glass (F-doped tin oxide, 10 Ohm cm-2, 0.5 mum thick) and modified by chemisorption of a monolayer of the redox chromophore [beta-(10-phenothiazyl)propoxy]phosphonic acid. The electrolyte used is LiClO4 (0.2 mol dm(-3)) in gamma -butyrolactone. The excellent performance of a 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm window over 10 000 electrochromic test cycles-switching times (coloring and bleaching) of less than 250 ms, coloration efficiency of 270 cm(2) C-1, steady-state currents (colored and bleached) of less than 6 muA cm(-2), and memory of greater than 600 s (time required for low end transmittance to increase by 5%)-suggest a practical technology.