Mitigating defects in an electrochromic device under a bus bar

A method of fabricating an electrochromic device comprising an electrochromic stack between a first and a second transparent, electronically conductive layer configured to establish an electrical potential across the electrochromic stack and thereby cause optical switching of the electrochromic device, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a substrate with the first transparent, electronically conductive layer disposed on a surface of the substrate;
• (b) fabricating the electrochromic stack on the first transparent, electronically conductive layer, wherein the electrochromic stack comprises an electrochromic layer and a counter electrode layer;
• (c) forming the second transparent, electronically conductive layer on the electrochromic stack;
• (d) forming a bus bar on a region of the second transparent, electronically conductive layer, wherein the region is over the first transparent, electronically conductive layer;
• and
• (e) after fabricating the electrochromic stack and the second transparent, electronically conductive layer,
• (i) deactivating the electrochromic device in the region under the bus bar without substantially deactivating the electrochromic device in regions not under the bus bar, or
• (ii) activating the electrochromic device in the regions not under the bus bar without substantially activating the electrochromic device in the region under the bus bar.