Stable and High-Performance Polyaniline/V2CTx MXene Composite Electrochromic Films Prepared by One-Pot Electrodeposition Method

In order to improve the electrochromic performance of polyaniline (PANI), porous PANI/vanadium carbide MXene (PANI/V₂CT_x) composite electrochromic films were prepared via a rapid, facile, and low-cost one-pot electrodeposition method from an aqueous solution composed of aniline and V₂CT_x for the first time. The addition of V₂CT_x with a 2D layered structure results in the PANI/V₂CT_x composite films exhibiting significantly different morphologies, structures, electrochemical and electrochromic properties from the pure PANI film. The results show that compared with the pure PANI film, the composite film with optimum V₂CT_x content possesses superior electrochromic properties, such as higher optical contrast, switching speed, coloration efficiency, and cycling stability. The improved electrochromic properties of the composite film can be ascribed to its unique porous morphology and strong hydrogen bond and/or electrostatic interaction between PANI and V₂CT_x. This research demonstrates that the one-pot electrodeposition method and the prepared conductive PANI/MXene composite films have potential applications in various fields.