Preparation, characterization and electrochromic properties of composite thin films incorporation of polyaniline

Two different electrochromic composite films consisting of aniline/sodium molybdate (S1) and aniline/ferric nitrate (S2) were obtained by electrochemical polymerization method on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates in oxalic acid (H2C2O4⋅2H2O) aqueous solution. The electrochromic properties of the resulting thin films were investigated by spectroelectrochemical measurement and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Under a square electrical potential, they show capacitive current characteristic and represent electrochromic performance, with maximum optical attenuations (ΔT%) of 30.8% at 355nm and 28.3% at 400nm for aniline/ferric nitrate and aniline/sodium molybdate thin films, respectively. Optical behavior of thin films was examined by UV–Vis spectrophotometry technique. The doped films indicated multiple color changes (yellow; green; and bluish green). The spectra also showed that produced layers have high absorption of UV radiation with respect to pure polyaniline (PANI) films. The optical band gap energy of PANI film decreased by dopant injection. Due to their decent transparency and electrochromic behavior, they are promising materials for electrochromic devices.