Degradation of electrochromic thin films under extended charge insertion and extraction is a technically important phenomenon for which no in-depth understanding is currently on hand. Here, we report on an explorative study of sputter-deposited WO3 films in a Li-ion-conducting electrolyte by use of cyclic voltammetry, in situ optical transmittance, and impedance spectroscopy. A cycling-dependent decrease of the charge capacity could be accurately modeled by a power-law function, and impedance spectroscopy gave evidence for anomalous diffusion as well as a higher charge-transfer resistance during deintercalation than during intercalation. Thus, a consistent conceptual picture emerged for the degradation dynamics; it includes the growth of an interfacial barrier layer and also embraces anomalous diffusion coupled with dispersive power-law chemical kinetics.
Keywords: WO3; detrapping; electrochromism; physicochemical mechanisms; thin films.