Electrochromic properties of large-area and high-density arrays of transparent one-dimensional β-Ta2O5 nanorods on indium-tin-oxide thin-films

Abstract

We report on the synthesis, crystalline structure, and electrochromic properties of transparent one-dimensional (1D) orthorhombic (β) Ta2O5 nanorods grown in a large-area high-density array. The transparent 1D β-Ta2O5 nanorod array was synthesized on a conducting indium-tin-oxide thin-film via hot-filament metal-oxide vapor deposition. The array contained ∼1900 β-Ta2O5 nanorods per square micrometer, which were on average, ∼17 nm wide and ∼300 nm long. The good coloration/bleaching cycles, large ion-diffusion coefficient (∼2.35×10−8 cm2/s), and high reversibility (∼79.8%) demonstrate that the 1D β-Ta2O5 nanorods to be a potential electrochromic material for electrochromic devices or smart windows.