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The present invention provides a switchable mirror material comprising (1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNi x (0.1<x<0.3), (2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface o

The present invention provides a switchable mirror material comprising (1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, or a magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNi x (0.1<x<0.3), (2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of the magnesium-containing thin film, and (3) a transparent protective layer optionally formed on the catalyst layer. The switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows the thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of the thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from the transparent state into the mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of the thin film in the range of about 20° C. to 100° C. The present invention also provides a switchable mirror glass having a surface formed with the switchable mirror material, a switchable mirror window, a method of switching the states of a switchable mirror glass, and an article having the switchable mirror function.

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1. A switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, wher

1. A switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, whereinsaid switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20° C. to 100° C. 2. The switchable mirror material as defined in claim 1, wherein said magnesium thin film has a thickness of about 5 to about 40 nm. 3. The switchable mirror layers as defined in claim 1, wherein said catalyst layer is a palladium or platinum layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm. 4. The switchable mirror material as defined in claim 1, further comprising a transparent protective layer, wherein said transparent protective layer is formed on said catalyst layer. 5. The switchable mirror material as defined in claim 4, wherein said magnesium thin film has a thickness of about 5 to about 40 nm. 6. The switchable mirror material as defined in claim 4, wherein said catalyst layer is a palladium or platinum layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm. 7. The switchable mirror material as defined in claim 4, wherein said protective layer is made of a hydrogen-permeable and water-impermeable material. 8. A method of switching the states of a switchable mirror member or glass comprising a switchable layer including the switchable mirror material as defined in claim 1, 2 and 4 , comprising a step of adjusting dehydrogenation speed in said switchable layer under a gas atmosphere by controlling the temperature of said gas atmosphere. 9. A switchable mirror member comprising a transparent substrate, and a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, whereinsaid switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20° C. to 100° C., andsaid switchable layer is formed on a surface of said transparent substrate. 10. The switchable mirror member as defined in claim 9, wherein said magnesium thin film has a thickness of about 5 to about 40 nm. 11. The switchable mirror member as defined in claim 9, wherein said catalyst layer is a palladium or platinum layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm. 12. The switchable mirror member as defined in any one of claims 9 - 11 , wherein said switchable mirror material further comprises a transparent protective layer, wherein said transparent protective layer is formed on said catalyst layer. 13. The switchable mirror member as defined in any one of claims 9 - 12 , wherein said transparent substrate is a transparent sheet made of acrylic or plastic material. 14. A switchable mirror glass comprising a glass substrate, and a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, whereinsaid switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mi rror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20° C. to 100° C., andsaid switchable layer is formed on a surface of said glass substrate. 15. The switchable mirror glass as defined in claim 14, wherein said magnesium thin film has a thickness of about 5 to about 40 nm. 16. The switchable mirror glass as defined in claim 14, wherein said catalyst layer is a palladium or platinum layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm. 17. The switchable mirror glass as defined in any one of claims 14 - 16 , wherein said switchable mirror material further comprises a transparent protective layer, wherein said transparent protective layer is formed on said catalyst layer. 18. A switchable mirror glass window having an insulating glass structure which includes a plurality of glass plates disposed in parallel with each other to define at least one enclosed space therebetween, wherein at least one of said glass plates is composed of a switchable mirror glass comprising a glass substrate, and a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, whereinsaid switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20° C. to 100° C.;said switchable layer is formed on a surface of said glass substrate; andsaid switchable layer faces in the inward direction of said insulating glass structure. 19. The switchable mirror glass window as defined in claim 18, wherein said magnesium thin film has a thickness of about 5 to about 40 nm. 20. The switchable mirror glass window as defined in claim 18, wherein said catalyst layer is a palladium or platinum layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm. 21. The switchable mirror glass window as defined in any one of claims 18 - 20 , wherein said switchable mirror material further comprises a transparent protective layer, wherein said transparent protective layer is formed on said catalyst layer. 22. The switchable mirror glass window as defined in any one of claims 18 - 20 , wherein said enclosed space is selectively supplied with either one of: (1) hydrogen gas and (2) heated air or oxygen gas, from an atmospheric-state controller. 23. A method of switching the states of a switchable mirror glass comprising a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, whereinsaid switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20° C. to 100° C.,comprising a step of selectively causing hydrogenation and dehydrogenation in said switchable layer, by means of selectively adjusting the level of said hydrogenation through at least one of a gasochromic process using hydrogen gas and an electrochromic process using electrolyte containing hydrogen, and selectively adjusting the level of the dehydrogenation through at least one of a gasochromic process using air or oxygen gas, an electrochromic process using electrolyte and a thermochromic process based on heating. 24. The method of switching the states of a switchable mirror glass as defined in claim 23, wherein said switchable mirror material further comprises a transparent protective layer, wherein said transparent protective layer is formed on said catalyst layer. 25. A method of switching the states of a switchable mirror member or glass with a switchable layer including a switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, whereinsaid switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20° C. to 100° C.,comprising a step of presetting a transition temperature of said magnesium thin film at any temperature in a range of about 20° C. to 100° C. to allow said magnesium thin film to be automatically switched from the transparent state to the mirror state at said preset temperature in response to a rise in atmospheric temperature. 26. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said transition temperature is set depending on the thickness of said catalyst layer. 27. An article comprising a switchable layer including the switchable mirror material comprising:(1) a magnesium thin film having a thickness of 40 nm or less, ora magnesium-nickel alloy thin film having an alloy composition represented by MgNix wherein 0.1<x<0.3; and(2) a transparent catalyst layer formed on a surface of said thin film, whereinsaid switchable mirror material has a chromic property which allows said thin film to be switched from a mirror state into a transparent state by means of hydrogenation of said thin film at about 20° C., and to be switched from said transparent state into said mirror state by means of dehydrogenation of said thin film in a temperature range of said about 20° C. to 100° C.,and (3) either one of a switchable mirror glass and a switchable mirror member having a transparent substrate, wherein said switchable layer is attached onto the surface of said switchable mirror glass or said transparent substrate.