Effect of substrate temperature on the electrochromic properties and cyclic durability of nickel oxide films

Electrochromic NiO films were prepared by using an electron-beam deposition method. The influence of the preparation conditions, especially the substrate temperature, on the cyclic durability and the properties of the films were investigated. The optical properties and the cyclic durability of as-deposited films strongly depended on the substrate temperature during deposition. The NiO films deposited with substrate temperatures of 150 ∼ 200 .deg. C showed excellent electrochromism and stable durability characteristics after 5000 cycles. The charge left in the films for these samples was a minimum. The best electrochromic parameters after 5000 cycles were obtained for samples prepared with a substrate temperature of 150 .deg. C. The obtained electrochromic parameters were CE = -0.049 (λ = 550 nm), Qin = -18.11 mC/cm2 and Qleft = 14.8 mC/cm2.