Abstract: An improved electrochromic device of the type having an electrochromic electrode in contact with an ion conductor, the ion conductor in turn being in contact with a layer of gold. The improvement of the instant invention is to interpose a layer of ruthenium oxide between the ion conductor and the layer of gold. The layer of ruthenium oxide is not an electrochromic material.

Abstract: An improved electrochromic device of the type having an electrochromic electrode in contact with an ion conductor, the ion conductor in turn being in contact with a layer of gold. The improvement of the instant invention is to interpose a layer of iridium oxide between the ion conductor and the layer of gold wherein the layer of iridium oxide and the layer of gold do not form an electrochromic electrode.

Abstract: An improved electrochromic device of the type employing: a working electrode, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of indium/tin oxide coated on glass; the working electrode being coated with an electrochromic layer, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of tungsten oxide; the electrochromic layer being coated with an ion conducting layer, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of a perfluorosulfonate polymer; the ion conducting layer being coated with a counter electrode, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of a layer of gold. The improvement is to operate such a device in an environment of a mixture of an inert gas and the vapor of a high dielectric constant material. This can be done in a sealed double pane window by forming such a device on one of the interior surfaces of the window panes and then filling the remaining space between the panes with a mixture of nitrogen and water vapor.

Abstract: An improvement of electrochromic devices incorporating a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer ion conducting layer interposed between a working electrode and a counter electrode. The improvement relates to the composition of the perfluorosulfonic acid polymer of the ion conducting layer. In the present invention the composition of the perfluorosulfonate polymer layer is a polymer comprising a substantially fluorinated backbone which has recurring pendant groups attached thereto represented by the formula --O--(CFR'.sub.f).sub.b --(CFR.sub.f).sub.a --SO.sub.3 --, where a=0-3, b=0-3, a+b=at least 1, and R.sub.f and R'.sub.f are independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen and a substantially fluorinated alkyl group having one or more carbon atoms. One example of such a polymer is the copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-((trifluoroethenyl)oxy)ethane sulfonic acid having an equivalent weight of about 800.

Abstract: The invention is a device and method for electroplating a metal workpiece having axial symmetry, such as a circular workpiece. In this invention the workpiece, which is the cathode, is rotated inside an anode structure submerged in the plating solution. Part of the rotating cathode continuously moves through a region of intense current fluxes created by passing DC current between the anode and cathode. The rotating cathode stirs the plating solution, which speeds up the plating rate. At the same time, with only part of the cathode passing continuously through the intense current flux region, the deposition process is periodically slowed down and intensified.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for fluorinating substances utilizing a fluoride-ion valve.