ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH ELECTROCHROMIC COPPER(I) OXIDE THIN FILMS

Electrochromism is a reversible and visible change in the transmittance and/or reflectance of a material as a result of electrochemical oxidation or reduction. Electrochromic windowsare architectural or automotive windows with electrochromic coatings that allow them to darken and lighten upon the application of a very small electric voltage. They have variable transmittance so that a desired amount of visible light and/or solar energy passes through. Such windows can lead to energy efficiency as well as comfortable indoor climate. Maintaining the color intensity requires a small, negligible current. Semiconducting copper(I) oxide, Cu2O, films were prepared using electrodeposition method onto transparent conductive glass substrates. Those films revealed a significant difference in transmittance in their coloured and bleached state. The AM 1.5 spectrum was taken for an input and the spectral intensity of the transmitted AM1.5 solar irradiance spectrum through those films was calculated