Electrochemical Rejuvenation of Anodically Coloring Electrochromic Nickel Oxide Thin Films

Nickel oxide thin films are of major importance as anodically coloring components in electrochromic smart windows with applications in energy-efficient buildings. However, the optical performance of these films degrades upon extended electrochemical cycling, which has hampered their implementation. Here, we use a potentiostatic treatment to rejuvenate degraded nickel oxide thin films immersed in electrolytes of LiClO₄ in propylene carbonate. Time-of-flight elastic recoil detection analysis provided unambiguous evidence that both Li⁺ ions and chlorine-based ions participate in the rejuvenation process. Our work provides new perspectives for developing ion-exchange-based devices embodying nickel oxide.