H+- intercalation Electrochemical/Electrochromic Properties of V-Ce Mixed Oxide Thin Films

Vanadium-Cerium mixed oxides have been proved as good electrodes for electrochromic devices because of their passive optical behavior coupled with good charge capacity. Thin films of vanadium cerium mixed oxides were deposited at room temperature on ITO plates by varying the RF power from 100W to 200 W in steps of 50W by RF magnetron sputtering in a pure argon atmosphere. Two targets were prepared by pressing the powder mixture of V2O5 and CeO2 taken in different molar ratios (1:1; 1:2). A three electrode electrochemical cell was designed with these mixed oxide thin films as the working electrode, platinum mesh as counter electrode and the saturated calomel as the reference electrode with 0.01M HCl solution diluted in distilled water as electrolyte. The variation in the electrochemical and optical properties of the prepared thin films with H+ ion intercalation and de-intercalation with respect to the RF power during deposition and the molar ratios of V2O5 and CeO2 in the target material are elaborately discussed in this study.