Electrochromic Oxide Thin Films for Smart Windows and Energy Storage
This community develops thin films of transition metal oxides that change color in response to an electrical signal, primarily for use in smart windows that regulate solar heat and light, and for integrated energy storage devices.
The research centers on the synthesis and deposition of tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, and molybdenum oxide films, often using magnetron sputtering or spray pyrolysis. A significant portion of the work focuses on enhancing the optical contrast and switching speed of these materials for building applications. Concurrently, many studies explore the dual functionality of these oxides, combining their electrochromic properties with pseudocapacitive energy storage to create self-powered devices. Recent efforts also examine flexible substrates and hybrid structures that integrate electrochromism with other optical phenomena, such as thermochromism or liquid crystal effects, to create multifunctional windows and displays.
The community is most heavily concentrated in tungsten research, accounting for 3.8% of all tungsten-related papers, with 4,335 papers in this group. It also represents 1.4% of molybdenum research (1,734 papers) and 1.1% of nickel research (2,023 papers).
The group comprises 15,907 papers, with the highest publication volumes in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Journal of The Electrochemical Society, and Electrochimica Acta.
The most recent work continues to focus on scalable fabrication methods for large-scale smart windows, fast-switching dual-cathode systems for year-round energy savings, and the integration of electrochromic devices with energy storage and IoT systems.