Crystal reconstructed cubic nickel oxide with energetic reactive interfaces for exceptional electrochromic smart windows.

Electrochromic smart windows can realize intelligent photothermal regulation by applying a low potential, which is of great significance for energy-saving buildings and achieving low carbon emission. However, the dense structure of conventional metal oxide electrochromic materials limits ion transport efficiency, resulting in poor electrochromic properties. Here, we propose a surface crystal reconstruction strategy for cubic NiO through phosphorylation (P-NiO) to build energetic reactive interfaces and enhance the electrochromic performance.

Ultrathin surface coating of conductive and zincophilic titanium oxynitride enables stable zinc anodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

The lifespan of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIB) has been hindered by the instability of zinc anodes, encountering challenges such as irregular dendritic growth, corrosion and hydrogen evolution reactions. In this study, we address these challenges by employing atomic-layer deposition (ALD) to create an ultrathin, conductive titanium oxynitride (TiNO) coating with abundant zincophilic sites. This atomic-scale coating serves as a bi-functional barrier that isolates the zinc metal from the electrolyte, thereby reducing spontaneous corrosion and mitigating hydrogen evolution.

Selective Electrochromic Regulation for Near-Infrared and Visible Light via Porous Tungsten Oxide Films with Core/Shell Architecture.

Dual-band electrochromic smart windows have become a research hotspot owing to their unique ability to selectively control near-infrared (NIR) and visible (VIS) light. However, the design and exploitation of dual-band electrochromic films are still an extreme challenge due to the scarcity of relevant high-performance materials. To solve this issue, we here proposed a type of porous WO film with nanowires/nanoparticles core/shell architecture as a promising candidate, endowing smart windows with a dual-band electrochromic feature.

A layer-stacked NiO nanowire/nanosheet homostructure for electrochromic smart windows with ultra-large optical modulation.

The structural engineering of active materials at the nanoscale level is crucial to improving the performance of electrochromic devices. However, an insufficient structural design inevitably results in limited electron/ion transportation and inadequate electrochromic performance. Herein, a new type of layer-stacked nanowire/nanosheet homostructure is proposed for enhancing the electrochromic properties of transition metal oxide films.

An Electrochromic Nickel Phosphate Film for Large-Area Smart Window with Ultra-Large Optical Modulation.

Exploring materials with high electrochemical activity is of keen interest for electrochemistry-controlled optical and energy storage devices. However, it remains a great challenge for transition metal oxides to meet this feature due to their low electron conductivity and insufficient reaction sites. Here, we propose a type of transition metal phosphate (NiHPO·3HO, NHP) by a facile and scalable electrodeposition method, which can achieve the capability of efficient ion accommodation and injection/extraction for electrochromic energy storage applications.