Electrochromic smart windows are able to vary their throughput of radiant energy by low-voltage electrical pulses. This function is caused by reversible shuttling of electrons and charge balancing ions between an electrochromic thin film and a transparent counter electrode. The ion transport takes place via a solid electrolyte. Charge transport is evoked by a voltage applied between transparent electrical conductors surrounding the electrochromic film/electrolyte/counter electrode stack. This review summarizes recent progress concerning: (i) calculated optical properties of crystalline WO₃, (ii) electrochromic properties of heavily disordered W oxide and oxyfluoride films produced by reactive magnetron bias sputtering, (iii) novel transparent reactively sputter-deposited Zr-Ce oxide counter electrodes and (iv) a new proton-conducting antimonic-acid-based polymer electrolyte. Special in depth presentations are given on elastic light scattering from W-oxide-based films and of electronic band structure effects affecting opto-chronopotentiometry data in Zr-Ce oxide. The review also contains some new device data for an electrochromic smart window capable of very high optical transmittance.

Electrochromic smart windows are able to vary their throughput of radiant energy by low-voltage electrical pulses. This function is caused by reversible shuttling of electrons and charge balancing ions between an electrochromic thin film and a transparent counter electrode. The ion transport takes place via a solid electrolyte. Charge transport is evoked by a voltage applied between transparent electrical conductors surrounding the electrochromic film/electrolyte/counter electrode stack. This review summarizes recent progress concerning: (i) calculated optical properties of crystalline WO₃, (ii) electrochromic properties of heavily disordered W oxide and oxyfluoride films produced by reactive magnetron bias sputtering, (iii) novel transparent reactively sputter-deposited Zr-Ce oxide counter electrodes and (iv) a new proton-conducting antimonic-acid-based polymer electrolyte. Special in depth presentations are given on elastic light scattering from W-oxide-based films and of electronic band structure effects affecting opto-chronopotentiometry data in Zr-Ce oxide. The review also contains some new device data for an electrochromic smart window capable of very high optical transmittance.