Sustainable Rejuvenation of Scalable Large-Area WO3-PB Electrochromic Devices

Electrochromic devices (ECD) have become a hot research topic in the field of green buildings due to their excellent energy efficiency and thermal management capabilities. Currently, challenges such as difficulties in large-area preparation, high costs, and degradation of electrochromic performance over time have hindered their widespread application. A strategy incorporating a dual-phase nanocrystalline structure of WO₃ and TiO₂·H₂O is proposed, in which specific synthesis parameters are precisely controlled to tailor the microstructure and composition of the films, enabling the fabrication of large-area WO₃-PB ECD with UV-rejuvenation electrochromic performance. As a result, the as-prepared WO₃-PB ECD exhibits an optical modulation of 75.6% and a remarkable cycle life exceeding 13,000 cycles. The electrochromic performance degradation caused by long cycles can be restored via UV irradiation. Utilizing UV light to restore the performance of these WO₃-PB ECDs promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly development, highlighting their important practical value.