Abstract
We have systematically investigated the characterization of V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ thin films as a counter electrode for lithium based complementary electrochromic devices. The V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ thin films were prepared by thermal vacuum evaporation with varing the substrate temperature and film thickness. In electrochromic devices for smart windows, the WO$_{3}$ thin films with 400-800 nm thickness require to be capable of reversibly injection 10-15 mC/cm$^{2}$ of lithium, which is readily accomplished charge-balanced switching in a V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ thin films with 100-150nm thick. The V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ thin films produces considerably small changes in optical modulation properties in the visible and near infrared region(500-1100 nm) compared to the amorphous WO$_{3}$ thin films on 10-15 mC/cm$^{2}$ of lithium injection and the V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ thin films can therefore act as a counter electrode to WO$_{3}$ in a lithium based complementary clectrochromic devices. After 10$^{5}$ coloration/bleaching switching time, the degradation does not occurs and the devices exhibit a stable optical modulation in V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ thin films. It has shown that the injected lithium ion amounts in crystalline V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ thin films with the same thickness is large by 3-5 mC/cm$^{2}$ of lithium compared to the amorphous thin films in the same driving conditions. Therefore, to optimize the device performance, it is necessary to choose an appropriate film thickness and crystallinity of V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ for amorphous WO$_{3}$ film thickness as a working electrode.
