Oh, Sehyun Kang, Kwang-Mo Lee, Deokyeon Kim, Sanghun Nah, Yoon-Chae Han, Seung Ho Shin, Seungyong Jang, Ho Seong Kim, Dong Hun 2024-04-18T05:30:05Z 2024-04-18T05:30:05Z 2024-04-18 2024-04 0272-8842 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/149660 To achieve commercial smart windows operating in environments exposed to air and moisture with a hot weather, there has been a steady demand for large-area electrochromic thin films with high cyclic durability and chemical stability. In this article, we discuss the change in the electrochromic performance of WO3 thin films through incorporation of Nb2O5, which is stable against an acid electrolyte and heated water. With the increase in the content of Nb2O5 achieved by increasing the sputtering power, the charge density and transmittance modulation gradually decreased, while the cyclic durability was noticeably improved. When the as-deposited WO3 thin films were soaked in water at 70 degrees C, their flat surface and electrochromic properties degraded significantly. Conversely, the deterioration of the surface morphology of the Nb2O5-incorporated WO3 thin films after etching in the heated water was alleviated, which led to electrochromic performances on par with those of the unetched films. This is an effective approach for manufacturing of electrochromic devices with an enhanced stability to prevent structural degradation under hot and humid conditions. English Pergamon Press Ltd. Improved cyclic durability and chemical stability of WO3 thin films by incorporation of Nb2O5 Article 10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.01.114 1 Ceramics International, v.50, no.7, pp.12100 - 12107 Ceramics International 50 7 12100 12107 N scie scopus 001197898900001 2-s2.0-85182568784 Materials Science, Ceramics Materials Science Article ELECTROCHROMIC PROPERTIES DEGRADATION Electrochromic thin films Smart windows WO3 Cosputtering Electrochromic cyclic durability Nb2O5 incorporation