Crater-like 3D lateral pathway electrochromic films

Seconds-scale switching, >89% modulation

Crater arrays extending to the electrode in magnetron-sputtered inorganic films break the trade-off between ion transport and optical modulation in conventional dense layers.

Yan, Yujie · Nan, Zhang · Guang, Yang · Yu, Zhang · Shujin, Chen · Di, Wang · Li, Yuechan · Lu, Xiangjun · Lin, Jianping · Yi, Wang · Dong, Meiqiu · Sun, Lingjie · Cheng, Wei · Xie, An · Yang, Fangxu · Hu, Wenping

Nano Research 2026

Specifications

Colored transmittance
{'zh': '2.23', 'en': '2.23'} %
Coloring switching time
{'zh': '5.4', 'en': '5.4'} s

Advantages

Colored transmittance reaches 2.23%

Ions insert efficiently into the entire film along 3D lateral pathways, achieving deep coloration with near-opaque colored state.

89.19% modulation in 5.4 s

3D lateral diffusion combined with vertical injection shortens transport pathways, accelerating ion diffusion and migration to enable fast and deep coloration.

Breaks speed–contrast trade-off

The nanostructure overcomes the fundamental trade-off between switching speed and optical contrast in conventional dense electrochromic layers.

Preserves mechanical integrity

The crater arrays are created without compromising mechanical and structural integrity, suitable for industrially compatible magnetron sputtering processes.

Applications