Tunable simultaneously visible-light and near-infrared transmittance for VO2/SiO2 composite films to enhance thermochromic properties

The ordered nano-structure composite films based on VO2/SiO2 as the thermochromic "smart window" have been fabricated by combining the PS template and RTA process. The study showed that the ordered VO2/SiO2 composite films exhibited good thermochromic performance with the large solar modulation efficiency (ΔTsol) of 8.42% and high visible transmittance (Tlum) of 55.6%, which is superior to pure VO2 foils with ΔTsol of 3.03% and Tlum of 46.1%, due to simultaneous control of transmittance in visible and near infrared region for VO2/SiO2 composite films. Hence, it offers a novel method to boost remarkably thermochromic properties for the "smart window" based on VO2 film.