Abstract
This study reports the effect of optical switching of electrodeposited ZnO+Zn5(OH)8Cl2 films on a gold electrode in a bath of 0.05 M Zn(NO3)2+0.1 M KCl. The coating turns black when cathodic polarization is applied yet when the current is removed the electrode immediately returns to a white colour. This optical effect is reversible and can be switched through various cycles. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.