Characterization and Electrochromic Properties of Ultrathin Films Self-Assembled from Poly(diallyldimethylammonium) Chloride and Sodium Decatungstate

Poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride ( P ) and sodium decatungstate ( W ) were layer-by-layer self-assembled onto quartz, mica, and ITO-electrode substrates (S). The self-assembled films, S-( P / W ) n, were characterized by absorption spectrophotometry, reflectivity, cyclic voltammetry and scanning force microscopy (AFM). The electrochemical properties of the S-( P / W ) n films were found to differ from those in which the polyelectrolyte remained at the outermost layer, i.e., S-( P / W ) n / P . Photoelectrochemical measurements provided evidence for the electrochromic and photoelectrochromic behavior of these films.