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The Merits of Sol-Gel Processing for Electrochromic Windows: A Commercial Perspective

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Sol-Gel Processing for Conventional and Alternative Energy

Part of the book series: Advances in Sol-Gel Derived Materials and Technologies ((Adv.Sol-Gel Deriv. Materials Technol.))

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Abstract

Electrochromic windows are reversible electrochemical devices. For architectural windows, typical electrochromic device structures comprise of several layers of coatings, where oxidation and reduction of electrode coatings result in actively controllable optical properties by application of electrical potential. These windows reduce the energy cost of a building envelope by dynamically changing the solar transmission through the windows which are used to optimize both the lighting costs and thermal gains with changing outdoor conditions. Commercial electrochromic windows are now becoming available; however, to obtain broader market acceptance the cost/benefit ratio of these windows must be improved. The windows being introduced into the marketplace do not use sol-gel technology in their manufacturing process. Judicious use of sol-gel technology can assist in obtaining a more favorable cost/benefit ratio. Sol-gel processes offer the opportunity of making the cost attractive, given the unique aspects of the coatings used in this application, which include multiple metal oxide compositions, significant thickness, microstructural requirements, incorporation of mobile ions and the ability to effectively use low-cost transparent conductors.

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Abbreviations

EC:

Electrochromic

IGU:

Insulated glass unit

FTO:

Fluorine doped tin oxide

ITO:

Indium tin oxide

ASTM:

American society for testing materials

UCPC:

User controlled photochromic devices

PVD:

Physical vapor deposition

PECVD:

Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AJJER LLC, 4541 East Fort Lowell Road, Tucson, 85712, AZ, USA

    Anoop Agrawal & John P. Cronin

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  1. Anoop Agrawal
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  2. John P. Cronin
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Correspondence to Anoop Agrawal .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ceramica y Vidrio, Madrid, Spain

    Mario Aparicio

  2. City University of New York, New York, 10001, USA

    Andrei Jitianu

  3. Ceramics Department, Rutgers University, Brett Road 98, Piscataway, 08854, New Jersey, USA

    Lisa C. Klein

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Agrawal, A., Cronin, J.P. (2012). The Merits of Sol-Gel Processing for Electrochromic Windows: A Commercial Perspective. In: Aparicio, M., Jitianu, A., Klein, L. (eds) Sol-Gel Processing for Conventional and Alternative Energy. Advances in Sol-Gel Derived Materials and Technologies. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1957-0_13

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