SELECTION OF THE FORMATION MODE OF A ZINC MESH ELECTRODE FOR AN ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ENERGY RECOVERY

Zinc mesh electrode was proposed for creating a prototype of an electrochromic device capable of recuperating energy spent on coloration. The search for a suitable formation regime of the mesh electrode with required capacity was realized using several approaches: use of multiwire substrates, deposition of zinc from different electrolytes, change in the composition of pasted electrodes. Deposition of zinc from a simple sulfate electrolyte yielded good deposits, however, their capacity wasn’t sufficient. The use of the alkaline zincate electrolyte yielded deposits with developed surface and higher capacity, but the deposits had dark color, poor adhesion and were falling off the substrate. The pasted electrode with a paste of zinc oxide, graphite and polyvinyl butyral demonstrated the highest capacity of – 0.83 mA∙h. The proposed method for forming the zinc mesh electrode was used to develop a prototype of electrochromic devices capable of recuperating electrical energy. The assembled prototype with the described electrodes demonstrated stable characteristics at a coloration degree of 50 %. The prototype was also capable of working as an energy storage unit and was used to power an LE