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Carbon quantum dot effects on WO3/methyl cellulose composite films accelerating photochromic switching performance

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Photochromic (PC) is known as a technology that modulates color or visible light transmittance in response to light exposure, particularly ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Due to its versatility, it has attracted significant attention by extensive applicability, including lenses, smart windows, displays, and sensors. PC materials are primarily categorized into organic and inorganic fields. Among these materials, tungsten oxide (WO3) is recognized as a representative inorganic material for PC applications. WO3 has exceptional durability, superior reversibility, and a wide optical modulation range. However, despite these advantages, WO3 based PC devices often exhibit critically slow bleaching kinetics. This limitation is caused by the hindered recombination of photogenerated charge carriers within the WO3 lattice. The slow switching response remains a significant hurdle for the commercialization of tungsten oxide-based PC devices. In this study, our group incorporates carbon quantum dots (CQDs) as a functional additive to accelerate the coloration and bleaching kinetics of the device. CQDs act as a material by establishing rapid charge transfer pathways via C-C bonding between the methyl cellulose matrix and WO3 particles. Simultaneously, they act as charge donors, a role facilitated by the energy bandgap disparity between WO3 and the CQDs. The incorporation of CQDs proved effective in remarkably shortening the response time (~12.5% for coloration and ~44.4% for bleaching) of device. These results effectively validate the performance of viability of the proposed strategy.
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsadv.2026.101062
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,350
OpenAlex ID: W7212667542
FWCI:
Cites: 31
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Related to: 10