LAUSR

Abstract To achieve a rapid-switching electrochromic electrode, an electrode with a hierarchical organic-inorganic heterojunction in combination with a nanorock layer was fabricated. The porous ZnO nanorocks (ZnR) provided more available external surfaces for later coatings. Measurements show that the increase in p-type PEDOT:PSS thickness in the PEDOT:PSS/ZnR electrode (PZR-electrode) enhanced the redox current, while the turn-on voltage still remained at approximately 0.23 V. For the PEDOT:PSS/WO3/ZnR electrode (PWZR-electrode), the coating of PEDOT:PSS decreased the impedance over the WO3 and electrolyte and promoted the conduction of Li+ ions. The charge intercalation of the p-n heterojunction-structured PWZR-electrode was improved by 21.8%, and the response was 22.8% faster as compared with that of the WO3/ZnR electrode (WZR-electrode). The amount of intercalated charges in the PWZR-electrode was 14.1 times greater than that in the PZR-electrode. The mechanisms of electron confinement and conduction promotion of ions were modeled.