Enhancement of Electrochromic Performance of NiO by Introducing MXene via In Situ Electrodeposition

Electrochromic materials can reversibly adjust their transmittance and reflective properties according to changes in the applied voltage, so that they can be widely used in energy-saving smart windows. However, the optical modulation range, stability, and response time of existing electrochromic materials still need to be further improved. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore electrochromic materials with better properties. In this study, we employed an efficient in situ electrodeposition method to effectively couple MXene with NiO. The combination of morphological characterization and spectroscopic tests provides compelling evidence that the synthesis of NiO-MXene composite film has been successful. Electrochemical studies demonstrate that the incorporation of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene not only markedly enhances the electrical conductivity of the electrochromic film but also results in a notable expansion of the optical modulation range, from 47.5% to 82.8%. Furthermore, the molecular force at the composite interface allowed the NiO-MXene film to remain stable at 92.9% after 1000 cycles. This study provides a reference for the development of new electrochromic materials.