Smart window coating based on nanostructured VO2 thin film

Smart window coating is fabricated by using vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin film. The VO2 thin film is nanocrystal structured and has low phase transition temperature which is about 35°C. This kind of thin film is infrared-optically transparent in the semiconductor phase at low temperatures and highly reflective in the metallic phase at high temperatures. Based on the VO2 thin film, a multilayered structure for smart window is designed and fabricated. The multilayered structure is optically transparent for visible light whether at low temperatures or high temperatures, and is transparent at low temperatures and opaque at high temperatures for infrared light, which is smart for adjusting infrared transmittance. This type of multilayered structure is potential to be applied to green smart windows to realize energy saving function.