Switchable mirror glass using magnesium-containing thin film
First Claim
1. A switchable mirror material comprising:
- (1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a switchable mirror material comprising (1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix (0.1<x<0.3), (2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of the magnesium-containing thin film, and (3) a transparent protective layer optionally formed on the catalyst layer. The switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows the thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of the thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from the transparent state into the mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of the thin film in the range of about 20° C. to 100° C. The present invention also provides a switchable mirror glass having a surface formed with the switchable mirror material, a switchable mirror window, a method of switching the states of a switchable mirror glass, and an article having the switchable mirror function.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A switchable mirror material comprising:
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(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A switchable mirror member comprising a transparent substrate, and a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:
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(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C., andsaid switchable layer is formed on a surface of said transparent substrate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A switchable mirror glass comprising a glass substrate, and a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:
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(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C., andsaid switchable layer is formed on a surface of said glass substrate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A switchable mirror glass window having an insulating glass structure which includes a plurality of glass plates disposed in parallel with each other to define at least one enclosed space therebetween, wherein at least one of said glass plates is composed of a switchable mirror glass comprising a glass substrate, and a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:
-
(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C.;
said switchable layer is formed on a surface of said glass substrate; and
said switchable layer faces in the inward direction of said insulating glass structure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of switching the states of a switchable mirror glass comprising a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:
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(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C.,comprising a step of selectively causing hydrogenation and dehydrogenation in said switchable layer, by means of selectively adjusting the level of said hydrogenation through at least one of a gasochromic process using hydrogen gas and an electrochromic process using electrolyte containing hydrogen, and selectively adjusting the level of the dehydrogenation through at least one of a gasochromic process using air or oxygen gas, an electrochromic process using electrolyte and a thermochromic process based on heating. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of switching the states of a switchable mirror member or glass with a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:
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(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C.,comprising a step of presetting a transition temperature of said magnesium thin film at any temperature in a range of about 20°
C. to 100°
C. to allow said magnesium thin film to be automatically switched from the transparent state to the mirror state at said preset temperature in response to a rise in atmospheric temperature.- View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An article comprising a switchable layer including the switchable mirror material comprising:
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(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<
x<
0.3; and
(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wherein said switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20°
C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20°
C. to 100°
C.,and (3) either one of a switchable mirror glass and a switchable mirror member having a transparent substrate, wherein said switchable layer is attached onto the surface of said switchable mirror glass or said transparent substrate.
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Specification