An aspect of the present disclosure is a device that includes a switchable material and an intercalating species, such that when a first condition is met, at least a portion of the intercalating species is associated with the switchable material and the switchable material is substantially transparent and substantially colorless, and when a second condition is met, at least a fraction of the portion of the intercalating species is transferred from the switchable material and the switchable material is substantially transparent and substantially colored.

A strengthened photochromic glass sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened photochromic glass sheet or article is provided. The process comprises heating the photochromic glass sheet to a desired temperature in a short time period without distortion to the photochromic glass sheet. The process also comprises in cooling the photochromic glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened photochromic glass sheets.

A strengthened photochromic glass sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened photochromic glass sheet or article is provided. The process comprises heating the photochromic glass sheet to a desired temperature in a short time period without distortion to the photochromic glass sheet. The process also comprises in cooling the photochromic glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened photochromic glass sheets.

A photochromic glass that includes a base glass and a photochromic agent is described. The base glass is a modified boroaluminosilicate glass and the photochromic agent is a nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase. The photochromic glass exhibits a sharp cutoff in the UV or short wavelength visible portion of the spectrum along with an absorption band at longer wavelengths in the visible. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase includes Cu.sup.2+, which provides states within the bandgap of the cuprous halide that permit the glass to absorb visible light. Absorption of visible light drives a photochromic transition without compromising the sharp cutoff. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase may optionally include Ag.

The present invention relates to a metal hydride device having a variable transparency, comprising a substrate, at least one layer including a photochromic yttrium hydride having a chosen band gap, and a capping layer at least partially positioned on the opposite side of the photochromic yttrium hydride layer from the substrate, said capping layer being essentially impermeable to hydrogen and oxygen.

A photochromic glass that includes a base glass and a photochromic agent is described. The base glass is a modified boroaluminosilicate glass and the photochromic agent is a nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase. The photochromic glass exhibits a sharp cutoff in the UV or short wavelength visible portion of the spectrum along with an absorption band at longer wavelengths in the visible. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase includes Cu.sup.2+, which provides states within the bandgap of the cuprous halide that permit the glass to absorb visible light. Absorption of visible light drives a photochromic transition without compromising the sharp cutoff. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase may optionally include Ag.

A window is provided comprising an outside glass pane and an inside glass pane. The outside glass pane includes a low emissivity layer. The inside glass pane comprises a photochromic glass and is spaced apart from and disposed substantially parallel to the outside glass pane. The outside glass pane transmits light in the visible portion of the optical spectrum. The low emissivity layer of the outside glass pane blocks transmission of solar radiation in the IR and near-IR bands, and transmits solar radiation in an activation band of the photochromic glass to darken the photochromic glass and reduce visible light transmittance through the photochromic glass.

A window is provided comprising an outside glass pane and an inside glass pane. The outside glass pane includes a low emissivity layer. The inside glass pane comprises a photochromic glass and is spaced apart from and disposed substantially parallel to the outside glass pane. The outside glass pane transmits light in the visible portion of the optical spectrum. The low emissivity layer of the outside glass pane blocks transmission of solar radiation in the IR and near-IR bands, and transmits solar radiation in an activation band of the photochromic glass to darken the photochromic glass and reduce visible light transmittance through the photochromic glass.

A photochromic glass, comprising: (i) a glass matrix that, comprising in mol percent (mol %) based on oxides: 66 mol %SiO.sub.275 mol %; 8 mol %B.sub.2O.sub.313 mol %; mol %Al.sub.2O.sub.37 mol %; 1.5 mol %P.sub.2O.sub.56 mol %, mol %Na.sub.2O5.5 mol %; 3 mol %K.sub.2O9.5 mol %; 0 mol %MgO4 mol %; 0 mol %Li.sub.2O0.05 mol %; 0 mol %BaO0.05 mol %; 0 mol %CaO0.05 mole %; wherein the amount of (Li.sub.2O+BO+CaO0.1 mole %); and (ii)) a plurality of photochromic agents, comprising in mol percent (%) with respect to the glass matrix: 0.07%Ag0.15%; 0.14%Cl0.25%; 0.025%Br0.04%; 0.0065%CuO0.015%, and wherein CuO/Ag0.22.

A photochromic glass, comprising: (i) a glass matrix that, comprising in mol percent (mol %) based on oxides: 66 mol %SiO.sub.275 mol %; 8 mol %B.sub.2O.sub.313 mol %; mol %Al.sub.2O.sub.37 mol %; 1.5 mol %P.sub.2O.sub.56 mol %, mol %Na.sub.2O5.5 mol %; 3 mol %K.sub.2O9.5 mol %; 0 mol %MgO4 mol %; 0 mol %Li.sub.2O0.05 mol %; 0 mol %BaO0.05 mol %; 0 mol %CaO0.05 mole %; wherein the amount of (Li.sub.2O+BO+CaO0.1 mole %); and (ii)) a plurality of photochromic agents, comprising in mol percent (%) with respect to the glass matrix: 0.07%Ag0.15%; 0.14%Cl0.25%; 0.025%Br0.04%; 0.0065%CuO0.015%, and wherein CuO/Ag0.22.