Stable and multicolored electrochromic device based on polyaniline-tungsten oxide hybrid thin film

•Polyaniline(PANI) and tungsten oxide(WO3) were introduced to prepare electrochromic hybrid film.•The electrochromic performance of neat PANI and PANI-WO3 hybrid film were completely investigated.•The stability and coloration efficiency of electrochromic film were over 1000 cycles and195 cm2 C-1.•Multicolor electrochromic device based on PANI-WO3 was successfully fabricated. A low-cost and facile process was employed to prepare an organic-inorganic hybrid electrochromic thin film based on polyaniline/ tungsten oxide (PANI/WO3) materials by using spin-coating, annealing process and electrodeposition technique as depicted figure. The stability (over 1000 cycles), short switching time (1.5 s for bleached process, 1.5 s for colored process) and high coloration efficiency (195 cm2 C−1) of device are the noticeable points of aforementioned novel. More importantly, the electrochromic device based on PANI/WO3 hybrid device displays more color than electrochromic device based on bare PANI film because of the electrochromic properties of PANI and WO3 were simultaneous took place in process. The results indicate that the electrochromic device based on PANI/WO3 hybrid film can be potential material for future electronic display and smart window devices. [Display omitted] In this study, tungsten oxide (WO3) film was used to enhance the stability as well as the performance of electrochromic window (ECW) based on famous conductive polymer-polyaniline (PANI). PANI and WO3 films were prepared and employed to fabricate hybrid ECW with an unprecedented stability (over 1000 cycles) and more colorful device with various color (green, blue, and violet of neat PANI, and deep blue of WO3). The multicolor nature of device maybe due to the simultaneous change of the band gaps of both PANI and WO3 in the reversible redox process. The present device based on the PANI-WO3 hybrid film shows superior electrochromic performance compare with that of neat PANI film. A short switching time (1.5 s each for colored and bleached processes), a high coloration efficiency (195 cm2 C−1), a prolonged lifetime (over 1000 cycles) and multicolor are the significant advantages of the PANI-WO3 hybrid film. The result indicates that ECW based on PANI-WO3 hybrid film is great candidate for next generation of electrochromic device such as electronic display and smart window.