Smart windows, capable of modulating near-infrared (NIR) and visible light, have gained significant attention for enhancing indoor comfort and privacy while integrating energy storage functionalities. Transition metal oxides, particularly tungsten oxides, are widely used in electrochromic applications, but often suffer from limitations such as low coloration efficiency (C.E.) and slow response times. This study explores the incorporation of Ti3C2Tx MXene into oxygen-deficient tungsten oxide (W18O49) to enhance electrochromic and energy storage performance. By optimizing solvothermal synthesis through solvent variation, a 5 wt.% Ti3C2Tx-W18O49 composite (5MX-WO) is developed, exhibiting superior electrochromic properties with 72% optical modulation at 700 nm, rapid switching speeds (6.5 s coloration, 5.6 s bleaching), high C.E. (≈182 cm2 C-1 at 700 nm), and areal capacitance of 25 mF cm-2 at 0.5 mA cm-2. The presence of Ti3C2Tx facilitates enhanced electronic and ionic transport pathways, contributing to optimal electrochromic behavior. A complementary electrochromic device (CECD) of size ≈5 × 5 cm2 is fabricated using 5MX-WO as the working electrode and spray-coated NiO as the counter electrode. The device achieved 61% optical modulation at 850 nm, fast response times, and excellent cyclic stability over 1000 cycles. These findings underscore the potential of W18O49/Ti3C2Tx composites for next-generation electrochromic energy storage systems.
Keywords: MXene; W18O49; electrochromic; solvent variation; spray coating.
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