Electrochromic window with high reflectivity modulation

A multi-layered electrochromic device having a high reflectivity modulation, a high transmissivity modulation, and a low absorptivity comprising:

• a transparent substrate;
• a first thin film electrochromic electrode, said first electrode capable of receiving, storing and delivering cations and electrons to be transported to a second thin film electrochromic electrode for reversible transformation of said device into an optically transparent state, said second thin film electrochromic electrode capable of receiving, storing and delivering cations and electrons to be transported to said first electrode for reversible transformation of said device into an optically reflective state;
• a thin film, inorganic, solid-state, amorphous electrolyte disposed between said first and said second electrodes, said electrolyte comprising a mixed compound of lithium, oxygen and at least one element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, nitrogen, aluminum, titanium, tantalum and niobium, said electrolyte formed by
• i) thermally evaporating onto a surface of said first electrode a material having a composition which comprises at least one first component of said electrolyte, and
• ii) simultaneously and concurrently exposing said first electrode surface and said thermally evaporated material to at least one source of energetic ions, said at least one ion source having an ion beam energy of less than 100 eV, said at least one ion source having an elemental ion composition which comprises at least one second component of said electrolyte, wherein said energetic ions and said thermally evaporated material combine to form said thin film of said electrolyte;
• said electrolyte having an ionic conductivity of at least 1.times.10.sup.-6 S/cm and an electronic resistivity greater than 10.sup.13 ohm.multidot.cm, said electrolyte capable of conveying a plurality of cations to said first and second electrodes, said cations conveyed to said first electrode for reversibly transforming at least one of said first and second electrodes into said optically reflective state, said cations conveyed to said second electrode for reversibly transforming at least one of said first and second electrodes into said optically transparent state, whereby, upon application of a predetermined voltage or current of a first polarity across said first and second electrodes, said cations and said electrons are inserted into said first electrode and, upon application of a predetermined voltage or current of a second polarity across said first and second electrodes, said cations and said electrons are extracted from said first electrode;
• and
• said device having an optical absorptivity of less than 50% at a plurality of wavelengths in both said optically transparent and said optically reflective states, said device having a transmissivity modulation of at least 50% and a reflectivity modulation of at least 40% at a plurality of wavelengths when said device is reversibly transformed between said optically transparent and said optically reflective states.