Solid electrolyte of tantalum oxide thin film deposited by reactive DC and RF magnetron sputtering for all-solid-state switchable mirror glass

All-solid-state switchable mirror glass was prepared by magnetron sputtering. The device exhibited the multi-layer structure of Mg₄Ni/Pd/Ta₂O₅ on WO₃/ITO/glass substrate. The Mg₄Ni, Pd, and Ta₂O₅ in the device acted as optical switches, proton injector and solid electrolyte, respectively. Reactive DC magnetron sputtering was employed as a new deposition method for Ta₂O₅ electrolyte thin film for the device. The transmittance of the device, at a wavelength of 670 nm using reactive DC-sputtered Ta₂O₅ thin film, reached 0.1% (a reflective state) to 48% (a transparent state). The transmittance change occurred in less than 40 s when 5 V was applied, and the switching speed was 60 times faster than that of the device using reactive RF-sputtered Ta₂O₅ thin film.