Nanostructured RF sputtered hexagonal ZnO nano-pebbles based electrode material for energy efficient devices

Abstract

In the present work, we describe the synthesis and electrochromic (EC) properties of electrode material made of zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-pebbles. Highly ordered nanocrystalline nanoporous ZnO nano-pebbles electrode with crystalline hexagonal structure was synthesized on the ITO coated glass substrate using RF magnetron sputtering in a reactive atmosphere (Ar:O2::2:3) at room temperature (RT). The EC behavior of the active electrode was analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The cyclic Voltammogram revealed the highly reversible redox characteristics with good cyclic stability at least upto 500 cycles. The proposed architecture, {Glass/ITO/ZnO nano-pebbles/1MKCl/ITO/glass} was found to be electrochemically active and exhibits wide optical modulation (26%), high reversible process, and good cyclic stability. The cathodic coloration ZnO electrode may be a potential candidate for novel and cheap energy efficient device and provide the indoor comfort with financial benefits