Ta2O5-Incorporated WO3 nanocomposite film for improved electrochromic performance in an acidic condition.

We report electrochromic and electrochemical properties of a WO3-Ta2O5 nanocomposite electrode that was fabricated from co-sputtering. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the WO3-Ta20 nanocomposite electrode revealed that morphology of the WO3 film was changed by incorporation of Ta2O5 nanoparticles, and their chemical states were confirmed to be W6+ and Ta5+ oxides from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The introduction of Ta2O5 to the WO3 film played a role in alleviating surface roughness increase during continuous potential cycling; whereas the surface roughness of the WO3 film was increased from ca. 3.0 nm to ca. 13.4 nm after 400 cycles, the roughness increase on the WO3-Ta2O5 was significantly reduced to 4.2 nm after 400 cycles, as investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This improvement of the stability by adding Ta2O5 may be responsible for the enhanced electrochemical and optical properties over long-term cycling with the WO3-Ta2O5 nanocomposite electrode.