@article {11798, title = {Electrochromically switched, gas-reservoir metal hydride devices with application to energy-efficient windows}, journal = {Thin Solid Films}, volume = {1}, year = {2008}, month = {08/2003}, address = {Eindhoven, Netherlands}, abstract = {

Proof-of-principle gas-reservoir MnNiMg electrochromic mirror devices have been investigated. In contrast to conventional electrochromic approaches, hydrogen is stored (at low concentration) in the gas volume between glass panes of the insulated glass units (IGUs). The elimination of a solid state ion storage layer simplifies the layer stack, enhances overall transmission, and reduces cost. The cyclic switching properties were demonstrated and system durability improved with the incorporation a thin Zr barrier layer between the MnNiMg layer and the Pd catalyst. Addition of 9\% silver to the palladium catalyst further improved system durability. About 100 full cycles have been demonstrated before devices slow considerably. Degradation of device performance appears to be related to Pd catalyst mobility, rather than delamination or metal layer oxidation issues originally presumed likely to present significant challenges.

}, author = {Andr{\'e} Anders and Jonathan L. Slack and Thomas J. Richardson} } @techreport {1372, title = {Energy Performance Analysis of Electrochromic Windows in New York Commercial Office Buildings}, year = {2002}, month = {11/2002}, abstract = {

A DOE-2.1E energy simulation analysis of a switchable electrochromic (EC) glazing with daylighting controls has been conducted for prototypical office buildings in New York (NY). The modeling included four types of office buildings: "old" and "new" vintages and large (10,405 m2, 112,000 ft2) and small (502m2, 5400 ft2) buildings. Five commercially available, base case windows with and without interior shades were modeled. Window area varied from 0 to 60\% of the exterior floor-to-floor wall area. The electric lighting had either no controls or continuous daylighting controls. The prototypes were modeled in New York City or Buffalo.

Energy performance ata are given for each of the four perimeter zones. Data are presented as a function of window-to-wall ratio in order to better understand the interactions between 1) electric lighting energy use and daylight admission and 2) solar heat gains and space-conditioning energy use. Maximum and minimum reductions in energy use between the EC glazing and all other base case conditions are also presented. Projected energy use reductions relative to typical specified NY office buildings are presented as an indication of the potential impacts EC glazings might have in retrofit and new construction.

The energy and demand reductions provided by EC glazings with daylighting controls relative to what is typically specified in office buildings in NY are quite substantial. EC glazings will also dampen fluctuations in interior daylight levels and window brightness, potentially increasing visual comfort.

}, author = {Eleanor S. Lee and L. Zhou and Mehry Yazdanian and Vorapat Inkarojrit and Jonathan L. Slack and Michael D. Rubin and Stephen E. Selkowitz} } @conference {11799, title = {Electrochromism in Copper Oxide Thin Films}, booktitle = {4th International Meeting on Electrochromism}, year = {2000}, month = {08/2000}, address = {Uppsala, Sweden}, abstract = {

Transparent thin films of copper(I) oxide prepared on conductive SnO2:F glass substrates by anodic oxidation of sputtered copper films or by direct electrodeposition of Cu2O transformed reversibly to opaque metallic copper films when reduced in alkaline electrolyte. In addition, the same Cu2O films transform reversibly to black copper(II) oxide when cycled at more anodic potentials. Copper oxide-to-copper switching covered a large dynamic range, from 85\% and 10\% photopic transmittance, with a coloration efficiency of about 32 cm2/C. Gradual deterioration of the switching range occurred over 20 to 100 cycles. This is tentatively ascribed to coarsening of the film and contact degradation caused by the 65\% volume change on conversion of Cu to Cu2O. Switching between the two copper oxides (which have similar volumes) was more stable and more efficient (CE = 60 cm2/C), but covered a smaller transmittance range (60\% to 44\% T). Due to their large electrochemical storage capacity and tolerance for alkaline electrolytes, these cathodically coloring films may be useful as counter electrodes for anodically coloring electrode films such as nickel oxide or metal hydrides.

}, author = {Thomas J. Richardson and Jonathan L. Slack and Michael D. Rubin} } @article {11766, title = {Effect of Hydrogen Insertion on the Optical Properties of PD-Coated Magnesium Lanthanides}, journal = {Electrochimica Acta}, year = {1998}, month = {9/1998}, address = {London, U.K.}, abstract = {

Metallic magnesium lanthanide thin films upon insertion of hydrogen transform to a highly transparent hydride phase. With a Pd overlayer, the transformation can be produced either by electrochemical insertion of hydrogen or by exposing the film to hydrogen gas. Unlike amorphous oxide electrochromics, the transformation is accompanied by a large change in visible reflectance (about 50\%). The optical switching effect in these materials is investigated in terms of changes in the complex refractive index as determined by variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometric and normal-incidence radiometric measurements over the solar spectrum. Furthermore the optical effect of converting the Pd caplayer to Pd-H was determined. It is shown that the pd layer limits the visible transmittance of the hyrdrided stack to about 35-40\%. Whereas the extinction coefficient of the dehydrided LnMg-layers at 550 nm is between 2.2 and 3.1, it is as low as 10-4 in the transparent state.

}, author = {Klaus von Rottkay and Michael D. Rubin and Franck Michalak and Robert D. Armitage and Thomas J. Richardson and Jonathan L. Slack and Peter A. Duine} } @article {11792, title = {Electrochromic lithium nickel oxide by pulsed laser deposition and sputtering}, journal = {Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells}, volume = {54}, number = {4-Jan}, year = {1998}, month = {07/1998}, pages = {59-66}, chapter = {59}, abstract = {

Thin films of lithium nickel oxide were deposited by sputtering and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) from targets of pressed LiNiO2 powder. The composition and structure of these films were analyzed using a variety of techniques, such as nuclear-reaction analysis, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and atomic-force microscopy. Crystalline structure, surface morphology and chemical composition of LixNi1-xO thin films depend strongly on deposition oxygen pressure, temperature as well as substrate{\textendash}target distance. The films produced at temperatures lower than 600{\textdegree}C spontaneously absorb CO2 and H2O at their surface once they are exposed to the air. The films deposited at 600{\textdegree}C proved to be stable in air over a long period. Even at room temperature the PLD films are denser and more stable than sputtered films. RBS determined the composition of the best films to be Li0.5Ni0.5O deposited by PLD at 60\ mTorr O2 pressure. Electrochemical tests show that the films exhibit excellent reversibility in the range 1.0{\textendash}3.4\ V versus lithium. Electrochemical formatting which is used to develop electrochromism in other films is not needed for the stoichiometric films. The optical transmission range is almost 70\% at 550\ nm for 150\ nm-thick films. Devices made from these films were analyzed using novel reference electrodes and by disassembling after cycling.

}, keywords = {Lithium nickel oxide, pulsed laser deposition, sputtering}, doi = {10.1016/S0927-0248(97)00223-7}, author = {Michael D. Rubin and Shi-Jie Wen and Thomas J. Richardson and John B. Kerr and Klaus von Rottkay and Jonathan L. Slack} } @article {11794, title = {Electrochromic Lithium Nickel Oxide Thin Films by RF-Sputtering from a LiNiO2 Target}, journal = {Electrochimica Acta}, volume = {44}, number = {18}, year = {1998}, pages = {3085-3092}, abstract = {

Thin films of lithium nickel oxide were deposited by rf sputtering from a stoichiometric LiNiO2 target. The composition and structure of these films depended on the oxygen pressure during deposition (sputtering gas is Argon), and, to a certain extent, the target history. The sputtering geometry, i.e. the substrate to target distance and the sputtering angle were also critical. the films exhibit excellent reversibility in the potential range 1.1V to 3.8 V vs Li/Li+ and could be cycled in a liquid electrolyte half cell for more than 3000 cycles with a switching range ΔTvis close to 70\%. The coloration efficiency in the visible was typically -30 to -40 cm2 C-1. The switching performance of a device utilizing a lithium nickel oxide film as counter electrode for a tungsten oxide electrochromic film is reported.

}, author = {Franck Michalak and Klaus von Rottkay and Thomas J. Richardson and Jonathan L. Slack and Michael D. Rubin} } @conference {11778, title = {Effective Medium Approximation of the Optical properties of electrochromic cerium-titanium oxide compounds}, booktitle = {SPIE Proceedings}, volume = {3138}, year = {1997}, month = {07/1997}, pages = {19-Sep}, address = {San Diego, CA}, abstract = {

Cerium titanium oxide samples derived from a solution have been compared against sputtered films over a wide range of different compositions. X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the structural properties of the compound material existing in a two-phase mixture MAO2-MBO2. The optical properties were evaluated over the whole solar spectrum by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry combined with spectrophutometry. The spectral complex refractive index was determined for CeO2 and TiO2, as well as for their compounds. To reduce the large number of permutations in composition of multi-component oxides it would be useful to be able to predict the properties of the mixtures from the pure oxide components. Therefore these results were compared to those obtained by effective medium theory utilizing the optical constants of CeO2 and TiO2. In order to investigate the performance as passive counter-electrode in Li+ based electrochromic devices the films were tested by cyclic voltammetry with in-situ transmission control. Chemical composition was measured by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Surface morphology was analyzed by atomic force microscopy.

}, keywords = {cerium titanium oxide, effective medium theory, electrochromic, optical constants}, author = {Klaus von Rottkay and Thomas J. Richardson and Michael D. Rubin and Jonathan L. Slack} }