Preliminary test of a large electrochromic window

An original device was made using complementary electrochromic materials. T he active working electrode was tungsten trioxide, deposited by r.f. sputte ring onto 'K-glass'. The storage counter electrode was nickel oxide lithium doped, electrochemically deposited. The solid ion conductor was a poly (et hylene glycol methacrylate) (PEGMA), containing appropriate dissolved salts . Using these kind of devices (dimension 144 cm(2)), it was assembled as a large optical electrochromic (EC) shutter, arranged as a matrix (8 x 8 devi ces). The smart window was installed in a large test cell, were the optical and energy performance will be measured. This test permits quantification of the advantages for energy saving during summer and winter season by dark ening windows and to evaluate the visual comfort obtainable by transmittanc e variation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.