Dr Behnam Akhavan's plasma. Credit: Dr Behnam Akhavan<\/p>\n
When you change the transparency of a wearable electronic or a smart window, an electrochromic device is doing the work, said Dr Akhavan.<\/p>\n
Until now, these devices have typically relied on materials like rare indium to do the job. What we have created is a manufacturers dream: a technology that removes the need for indium and instead uses a plasma-engineered, three-layered structure that is much cheaper to produce.<\/p>\n
Early iterations of the technology were produced for the first time in 2019, using a new method of tungsten oxide deposition known as HiPIMS (the plasma technology used to create these materials). Now, instead of a bare tungsten oxide layer, the group has developed a nanocomposite of tungsten oxide and silver. This nanotechnology-enabled approach allows electrochromic devices to efficiently and rapidly change colour upon a users request.<\/p>\n
The plasma coatings are transparent and also electrically conductive. They are made up of a layer of silver that is approximately 10,000 times thinner than the width of human hair, placed in between two nano-thin layers of tungsten oxide decorated with silver nanoparticles.<\/p>\n
These plasma-fabricated coatings can then be applied to electronic papers, smart phones and glass windows and can be dimmed with the application of a small electrical current.<\/p>\n
DECLARATION<\/p>\n
There are no conflicts of interest to share. The research was funded by the University of Sydney and the Australian Research Council.<\/p>\n
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