PVP-Engineered WO3/TiO2 Heterostructures for High-Performance Electrochromic Applications with Enhanced Optical Modulation and Stability

In response to escalating global energy demands and environmental challenges, electrochromic (EC) smart windows have emerged as a transformative technology for adaptive solar modulation. Herein, we report the rational design and fabrication of a bilayer WO3/TiO2 heterostructure via a synergistic two-step strategy involving the electrochemical deposition of amorphous WO3 and the controlled hydrothermal crystallization of TiO2. Structural and morphological analyses confirm the formation of phase-pure heterostructures with a tunable TiO2 crystallinity governed by reaction time. The optimized WTi-5 configuration exhibits a hierarchically organized nanostructure that couples the fast ion intercalation dynamics of amorphous WO3 with the interfacial stability and electrochemical modulation capability of crystalline TiO2. Electrochromic characterization reveals pronounced redox activity, a high charge reversibility (98.48%), and superior coloration efficiency (128.93 cm2/C). Optical analysis confirms an exceptional transmittance modulation (ΔT = 82.16% at 600 nm) and rapid switching kinetics (coloration/bleaching times of 15.4 s and 6.2 s, respectively). A large-area EC device constructed with the WTi-5 electrode delivers durable performance, with only a 3.13% degradation over extended cycling. This study establishes interface-engineered WO3/TiO2 bilayers as a scalable platform for next-generation smart windows, highlighting the pivotal role of a heterostructure design in uniting a high contrast, speed, and longevity within a single EC architecture.