Electrochromic properties of lithiated Co-oxide (LixCoO2) and Ni-oxide (LixNiO2) thin films prepared by the sol–gel route

Layered Li_xCoO₂ and Li_xNiO₂ thin films (x1) were prepared by a peroxo wet chemistry route from Li(I), Co(II) and Ni(II) acetate precursors and the addition of H₂O₂. Structural changes during the processing of xerogel to final oxide were followed by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Electrochromic properties were determined with in-situ potentiodynamic, potentiostatic and galvanostatic spectroelectrochemical measurements. Single dipped films with composition Li_0.99Co_1.01O₂ or Li_0.94Ni_1.06O₂ exhibited stable voltammetric response in 1 M LiClO₄/propylene carbonate electrolyte after about 60 cycles. The total charge exchanged in a reversible charging/discharging cycle was about ±30 mC cm^?2 for Li_0.99Co_1.01O₂ and ±20 mC cm^?2 for Li_0.94Ni_1.06O₂ oxide films. Galvanostatic measurements showed that about 1/2 (x0.5) and 2/3 (x0.3) of Li⁺ ions could be reversibly removed from the structure of Li_0.99Co_1.01O₂ and Li_0.94Ni_1.06O₂ films, respectively. Practical applicability of Li_0.99Co_1.01O₂ and Li_0.94Ni_1.06O₂ oxide films was studied in electrochromic devices with WO₃(H⁺)Li⁺ormolyteLi_0.99Co_1.01O₂ and WO₃(H⁺)Li⁺ormolyteLi_0.94Ni_1.06O₂ configuration. The monochromatic transmittance T_s (λ=633 nm) of dark blue coloured devices was extremely low (T_s3%), whereas in bleached state the value reached around T_s70%.