Abstract: A elemental mirror for vehicles having a luminous reflectance of at least about 30% includes a substrate coated with a thin layer of elemental semiconductor having an index of refraction of at least 3 and an optical thickness of at least about 275 angstroms. Preferably, the elemental semiconductor coating is sputter coated silicon or germanium and a light absorbing coating is included therebehind. The mirror is spectrally nonselective with elemental semiconductor optical thicknesses of about 275 to 2400 angstroms on the front substrate surface. Spectrally selective mirrors are provided by adding an interference coating to the elemental semiconductor layer coating, preferably of a dielectric such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, on either the front or rear substrate surface, or by using a thicker, single elemental semiconductor layer. Instead of an absorbing coating behind the mirror, additional elemental semiconductor and dielectric thin layers may be included to reduce secondary reflections.

Abstract: A method of depositing a nitrogen-containing electrochromic iridium oxide film by sputtering iridium in an atmosphere comprising oxygen and nitrogen is disclosed for use in producing a transparent electrochromic article. The article includes electroconductive films, e.g., ITO, on two substrates, one of which has a superimposed electrochromic film, e.g., tungsten oxide, and the other of which has superimposed the iridium oxide film of the invention. An ion conductive layer between the electrochromic films completes the article.