Nano-composite thermochromic thin films and their application in Energy-efficient glazing
- Authors: Saeli, M; Piccirillo, C; Parkin, IP; Ridley, I; Binions, R
- Publication year: 2009
- Type: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
- Key words: CVD, Hybrid Aerosol, Vanadium dioxide, Thermochromism
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/44006
Abstract
A hybridatmosphericpressureandaerosol-assistedchemicalvapourdepositionstrategyispresentedas a facileroutefortheproductionofvanadiumdioxidenano-compositethinfilms.Theeffectofthe inclusionofgoldnanoparticlesandtheuseofasurfactantmolecule,tetraoctylammoniumbromide,is discussed.Thefilmswerefullycharacterisedusingawidevarietyoftechniques,includingscanning electronmicroscopy,X-raydiffraction,X-rayphotoelectronspectroscopyandUV/vis/NIRspectroscopy. It isshownthatmicro-structuralchangesbroughtaboutbycarefulcontroloffilmgrowthconditions, and/ortheuseofsurfactant,leadtoanenhancementofthermochromicproperties.Goldnanoparticle incorporationleadstoasignificantchangeinthecolourofthefilmsfromayellow-browncolourtoa varietyofgreensandbluesdependingonthegoldnanoparticleconcentration.Thefilmsbecomemore reflectiveintheinfra-redwithincreasedgoldnanoparticleincorporation.Opticaldataareusedin energy modellingstudiestoelucidatethefilmpotentialasanenergy-savingcoatinginarchitectural glazing.Theenergymodellingresultssuggestthatforwarmerclimatesthethermochromicnano- compositesinvestigatedhereleadtosignificantenergysavingswhencomparedwithplainglassand other standardindustryproducts.