DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ALL-SOLID-STATE ELECTROCHROMIC MEDIUM-SIZE DEVICE

An electrochromic device based on a five layer coating deposited on a glass sheet was produced. The layers were all obtained by physical vap our deposition in the same vacuum environment, using a commercial appa ratus capable of producing thin films on large area substrates. Small (50 x 50 mm(2)) and medium (300 x 300 mm(2)) size specimens were prepa red for preliminary study, to establish the electrochemical and optica l performances of the device. Electrochemical measurements were perfor med on each active material, as well as on the whole specimens, in ord er to relate electrochemical properties to process conditions. Also, l uminous and solar parameters were obtained from (near) normal incidenc e spectrophotometry in both the bleached and coloured states, to confi rm the values used in the design phase of the electrochromic device. O ne of the specimens was also submitted to variable angle photometric a nd radiometric measurements, using an integrating sphere. This data wa s then used to evaluate the room luminance distribution and energy loa ds using a building simulation code. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.