Method for depositing electrochromic layers

A method for preparing an electrochromic coating on a substrate having an electrically conductive surface comprising:

• providing a substrate having an electrically conductive surface;
• reacting tungsten with hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid to form a tungsten peroxy acid product, and reacting said tungsten peroxy acid product with a lower carbon alcohol to form a peroxyester-tungsten derivative;
• coating the conductive surface of said substrate with said peroxyester-tungsten derivative to give a coating of a desired thickness;
• and
• converting said coating to an electrochromically active coating.

A method for preparing an inorganic oxide coating on a substrate comprising:

• providing a substrate having a surface;
• reacting a transition metal with hydrogen peroxide and an organic acid to form a transition metal-peroxy acid product;
• reacting said transition metal peroxy acid product with a lower carbon alcohol to form a peroxyester-transition metal derivative;
• providing a coating solution of said peroxyester-transition metal derivative dissolved in an organic solvent;
• coating said surface of said substrate with said solution to give a coating of desired thickness;
• and
• converting said coating to an inorganic oxide.