Nanostructured nickel hydroxide thin film was prepared by cathodic electrodeposition in room temperature followed by annealing process at 250 degrees C. The annealed nickel hydroxide thin film exhibited good lithium-driven electrochromic properties without any activation process. The as-deposited nickel hydroxide thin film was transparent while the annealed one showed brownish color. The annealed thin film could be used as counter electrode coupled with tungsten oxide thin film electrode. A complementary electrochromic device in the form of glass/FTO/WO3/Li+-PVB/NiO/FTO/ glass was also demonstrated in the present study. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.