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1997
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August
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In the Laboratory
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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
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August 1997
Vol. 74 No. 8
p. 962
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| Abstract |
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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.
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| More Information |
 Citation |
Forslund, Bertil. J. Chem. Educ. 1997 74 962.
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Keywords |
Demonstrations, Inorganic Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Materials Science, Solid-State Chemistry
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History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
July 28, 1999
June 23, 2005
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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1997
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August
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962
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