Electrochromic Properties of Dibenzyl Viologen on ITO electrode: Influence of Concentration and Electrode Potential

Viologen-based electrochromic materials have garnered significant attention due to their promising applications in nanoelectrochromic devices. The electrochromic properties of these materials such as switching time, durability, and overall device performance can be modulated by factors including counter ions, functional groups, precursor concentration, and applied potential. In this work, the electrochemical and electrochromic behaviors of dibenzyl viologen (DBV) ultrathin films deposited on conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates were investigated in acidic media. The study focused on the effects of DBV concentration and applied potential, employing a combination of cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results demonstrate that the color of ITO/DBV films in acidic environments can be reversibly tuned by varying the applied potential. The color intensity increases with higher DBV²⁺ concentrations in the solution phase. These findings highlight the potential of the DBV molecule as an effective organic electrochromic material for use in smart devices.