Dual-Function Self-Powered Electrochromic Batteries with Energy Storage and Display Enabled by Potential Difference

With the increasing awareness of energy savings, electrochromic smart windows with energy storage and display have attracted extensive attention. Herein, a self-powered electrochromic system (Mg ∼ PB ∼ MnO2) is initially proposed, which integrates high electrochromic performance with energy storage performance. The self-charging/discharging processes accompanied by self-coloring/bleaching processes are based on the potential difference between the electrochromic electrode and the other opposite electrodes, such as Mg or MnO2. The bleaching process is achieved by connecting the Prussian blue (PB) electrode with the Mg electrode, which releases energy. The coloring process is realized by connecting the PW electrode with the MnO2 electrode, which corresponds to the process of energy storage. In addition, the MnO2 electrode is recyclable. Due to the high potential difference between Mg and MnO2 electrodes, the system is universal and can be used for reversible cycling of various electrochromic materials, such as polyaniline (PANI) and tungsten oxide (WO3).