The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices

In this work, electrochromic devices were prepared using the redox couple ethyl viologen diperchlorate and 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene in propylene carbonate as an aprotic solvent to facilitate ions separation and diffusion inside the devices. Electrochromic devices were made using electrochromic gel mix...

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Main Authors: Antonello Nucera, Carmen Rizzuto, Mario Michele Pipita, Irene Barba Castagnaro, Roberto Termine, Riccardo C. Barberi, Marco Castriota
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Gels
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/11/694
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author Antonello Nucera
Carmen Rizzuto
Mario Michele Pipita
Irene Barba Castagnaro
Roberto Termine
Riccardo C. Barberi
Marco Castriota
author_facet Antonello Nucera
Carmen Rizzuto
Mario Michele Pipita
Irene Barba Castagnaro
Roberto Termine
Riccardo C. Barberi
Marco Castriota
author_sort Antonello Nucera
collection DOAJ
description In this work, electrochromic devices were prepared using the redox couple ethyl viologen diperchlorate and 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene in propylene carbonate as an aprotic solvent to facilitate ions separation and diffusion inside the devices. Electrochromic devices were made using electrochromic gel mixtures at the concentrations of 55%, 60% and 65% with respect to the bisphenol A polymer. In particular, two sets of gels were made: one set contained the bisphenol A not-polymerized while and the second one contained the polymerized polymer. Different techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis-NIR, and Raman spectroscopy, were used to study such systems to understand the differences in terms of performances between the different sets of electrochromic devices. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed that the oxidation process of the 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene and the reduction of the ethyl viologen diperchlorate occurred at about 0.4 V. Interesting variations in the transmittances were found between the two groups of samples. The best values of CE were provided by the electrochromic devices based on the polymerized electrochromic gel mixture at a concentration of 60% (EM<sub>60</sub>). The EM<sub>60</sub> device result was CE = 92.82 C/cm<sup>2</sup> in the visible region and CE = 80.38 C/cm<sup>2</sup> in the near–infrared region, confirming that these devices can be used for energy-saving applications. A structural characterization of the materials used in the two sets of electrochromic devices was made using Raman spectroscopy, and the analysis supports the electrochemical models used to explain the processes involved during operation of the electrochromic systems.
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spelling doaj-art-c995209c9d0849b48fc5d4032e82159b2025-08-20T02:28:10ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612024-10-01101169410.3390/gels10110694The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic DevicesAntonello Nucera0Carmen Rizzuto1Mario Michele Pipita2Irene Barba Castagnaro3Roberto Termine4Riccardo C. Barberi5Marco Castriota6Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, Cubo 33B, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyDepartment of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, Cubo 33B, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyDepartment of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, Cubo 33B, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyDepartment of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, Cubo 33B, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyCNR-Nanotec c/o, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, Cubo 33B, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyDepartment of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, Cubo 33B, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyDepartment of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Ponte Bucci, Cubo 33B, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyIn this work, electrochromic devices were prepared using the redox couple ethyl viologen diperchlorate and 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene in propylene carbonate as an aprotic solvent to facilitate ions separation and diffusion inside the devices. Electrochromic devices were made using electrochromic gel mixtures at the concentrations of 55%, 60% and 65% with respect to the bisphenol A polymer. In particular, two sets of gels were made: one set contained the bisphenol A not-polymerized while and the second one contained the polymerized polymer. Different techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis-NIR, and Raman spectroscopy, were used to study such systems to understand the differences in terms of performances between the different sets of electrochromic devices. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed that the oxidation process of the 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene and the reduction of the ethyl viologen diperchlorate occurred at about 0.4 V. Interesting variations in the transmittances were found between the two groups of samples. The best values of CE were provided by the electrochromic devices based on the polymerized electrochromic gel mixture at a concentration of 60% (EM<sub>60</sub>). The EM<sub>60</sub> device result was CE = 92.82 C/cm<sup>2</sup> in the visible region and CE = 80.38 C/cm<sup>2</sup> in the near–infrared region, confirming that these devices can be used for energy-saving applications. A structural characterization of the materials used in the two sets of electrochromic devices was made using Raman spectroscopy, and the analysis supports the electrochemical models used to explain the processes involved during operation of the electrochromic systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/11/694ethyl viologen diperchlorateferrocenebisphenol A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) diacrylateelectrochromic devicepolymeric gel electrolyteRaman spectroscopy
spellingShingle Antonello Nucera
Carmen Rizzuto
Mario Michele Pipita
Irene Barba Castagnaro
Roberto Termine
Riccardo C. Barberi
Marco Castriota
The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices
Gels
ethyl viologen diperchlorate
ferrocene
bisphenol A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) diacrylate
electrochromic device
polymeric gel electrolyte
Raman spectroscopy
title The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices
title_full The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices
title_fullStr The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices
title_short The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices
title_sort effects of polymerization on the performance of viologen based electrochromic devices
topic ethyl viologen diperchlorate
ferrocene
bisphenol A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) diacrylate
electrochromic device
polymeric gel electrolyte
Raman spectroscopy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/11/694
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