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A Simple Laboratory Demonstration of Electrochromism

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Bertil Forslund

Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Stockholms Universitet, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm, S-106 91, Sweden

J. Chem. Educ., 1997, 74 (8), p 962

DOI: 10.1021/ed074p962

Publication Date (Web): August 1, 1997

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

The ability of certain materials or chemical systems to respond to applied electrical fields or currents by changing color or optical density is called electrochromism. A laboratory exercise on this topic for 1st year chemistry courses is described. It can easily be carried out in one day by a group of two students, who are asked to construct an electrochromic cell, consisting of a thin, transparent layer of WO₃ on a glass plate with a thin, transparent, and conducting surface coating of doped SnO₂. An Sb-doped SnO₂ layer is relatively easily deposited on the cleansed glass surface by spray pyrolysis. The WO₃ layer on the SnO₂ is conveniently deposited from a solution of colloidal tungsten oxide, prepared by ion exchange in Na₂WO₄(aq). By electrolytic intercalation/decalation of hydrogen ions, performed in a beaker with sulfuric acid, a deep-blue color can be reversibly developed and removed in the WO₃ layer.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Subject):

Electrochemistry

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

In Situ Techniques for Monitoring Electrochromism
Hakan Sariçayir and Musa Üce, Atıf Koca
Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (2), 205-207
- In Situ Techniques for Monitoring Electrochromism
  Hakan Sariçayir and Musa Üce, Atıf Koca
  Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (2), 205-207
  This experiment employs current technology to enhance and extend existing lab content. The basic principles of spectroscopic and electroanalytical techniques and their use in determining material properties are covered in some detail in many undergraduate ...
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