Unique Transparent Film Deposited on Glass at Room Temperature

Thin, transparent, essentially metallic films may be deposited on glass at room temperature by electroless reduction from solution. By partial chemical replacement of the electroless metal by another more noble metal, a new film is formed. In one very interesting case, using and in solution, the film develops significant nonmetallic character and an unusually low reflectance from the glass‐air interface. In addition to silver metal the film consists of and a sulfur‐containing species, probably . The resulting film is atypical within the family of generally metallic films deposited chemically on glass for purposes of solar and thermal insulation in architectural construction. In the course of developing this film as a commercial product, experimental data have been generated which suggest an interesting oxidation reaction.