Fabrication of Mo-doped WO3 nanorod arrays on FTO substrate with enhanced electrochromic properties

Abstract

Well-oriented and crystalline WO3 nanorod arrays (WNRAs) decorated with Mo were synthesized on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate by the hydrothermal method. The effects of Mo doping, hydrothermal reaction time, and hydrothermal temperature on the morphologies and electrochromic properties of as-prepared WNRAs were studied thoroughly. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and chronoamperometry techniques were used to characterize the structures and properties of obtainedWNRAs. The results demonstrate that the average diameter of the as-prepared WNRAs ranged from 30 to 70 nm. During the decoration ofMo on theWNRAs, the growth density of as-prepared WNRAs decreased and the surfaces became rough. However, the decorated Mo on WNRAs synthesized at 180 °C for 5 h with a Mo/Wmole ratio of 1:40 exhibited better electrochromic properties than singleWNRAs. They exhibited high opticalmodulation (61.7%), fast bleaching/coloring response times (3 s/9 s), high coloration efficiency values (73.1 cm2/C), and good cycling stability.