SOL-GEL COATINGS ON LARGE-AREA GLASS SHEETS FOR ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES

The preparation of vanadium and tungsten oxide coatings is described u sing vanadium oxide tri-2-propoxide/2-propanol and tungsten penta-etho xide/2-propanol solutions. These solutions are dip coated onto K-glass substrates and cured. For vanadium oxide coatings it is shown that so l-gel/dip coat processing is a feasible production technology for very homogeneous vanadium oxide coatings on large area sheets with good el ectrochromic properties. Homogeneous vanadium/titanium oxide coatings with a titanium contents up to 40% and charge capacities up to 45 mC/c m(2) are obtained. Homogeneous tungsten oxide coatings with reasonable electrochromic properties (coloration efficiency up to 34 cm(2)/C and transmission changes up to 5:1) are prepared. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce B.V.