An Electrochromic Nickel Phosphate Film for Large-Area Smart Window with Ultra-Large Optical Modulation

Exploring materials with high electrochemical activity is of keen interest for electrochemistry-controlled optical and energy storage devices.However,it remains a great challenge for transition metal oxides to meet this feature due to their low electron conductivity and insufficient reaction sites.Here,we propose a type of transition metal phosphate(NiHPO_(4)·3H_(2)O,NHP)by a facile and scalable electrodeposition method,which can achieve the capability of efficient ion accommodation and injection/extraction for electrochromic energy storage applications.Specifically,the NHP film with an ultra-high transmittance(approach to 100%)achieves a large optical modulation(90.8%at 500 nm),high coloration efficiency(75.4 cm^(2)C^(-1)at 500 nm),and a high specific capacity of 47.8 mAh g^(-1)at 0.4 A g^(-1).Furthermore,the transformation mechanism of NHP upon electrochemical reaction is systematically elucidated using in situ and ex situ techniques.Ultimately,a large-area electrochromic smart window with 100 cm^(2)is constructed based on the NHP electrode,displaying superior electrochromic energy storage performance in regulating natural light and storing electrical charges.Our findings may open up new strategies for developing advanced electrochromic energy storage materials and smart windows.

Implementation of a choline bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide aqueous electrolyte for low temperature EDLCs enabled by a cosolvent

We report a carbon/carbon capacitor based on micro/mesoporous carbon electrodes with cost-effective and eco-friendly aqueous choline bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide(Ch TFSI)electrolyte with a cosolvent enabling low-temperature operation down to-30℃.For this purpose,a Mg O-templated hierarchical carbon(MP98B)with an average mesopore diameter of 3.5 nm was prepared by pyrolysis of magnesium citrate hydrate at 900℃.To reach lower temperatures,the melting point and viscosity of the aqueous electrolyte were reduced by mixing water(W)with an organic solvent(methanol,M,or isopropanol,I)of high dielectric constant and low viscosity.5 mol kg^(-1)(5 m)Ch TFSI in an optimized volume fraction of cosolvent,M_(0.75)W_(0.25),and I_(0.75)W_(0.25),showed the highest conductivity;the higher conductivity in M_(0.75)W_(0.25)(22.8 and 3.1 m S cm^(-1) at 20 and-30℃,respectively)than in I_(0.75)W_(0.25)(8.5 and0.5 m S cm^(-1)at 20 and-30℃,respectively)is attributed to the lower viscosity of the M_(0.75)W_(0.25)solution.The electrochemical stability window(ESW)of 5 m Ch TFSI in M_(0.75)W_(0.25)and I_(0.75)W_(0.25)(1.6 V)on an MP98B electrode was determined by applying the S-method.Meanwhile,by adjusting the mass ratio of the two electrodes,a MP98B/MP98B capacitor using the 5 m electrolyte in M_(0.75)W_(0.25)could operate with a good life span up to 1.6 V while exhibiting a better charge propagation,greater specific capacitance,and higher specific energy than in I_(0.75)W_(0.25).