The preparation of a plasmonically resonant VO2 thermochromic pigment.
Vanadium dioxide (VO(2)) undergoes a reversible metal-insulator transition, normally at approximately 68 degrees C. While the properties of continuous semi-transparent coatings of VO(2) are well known, there is far less information available concerning the potential use of discrete VO(2) nanoparticles as a thermochromic pigment in opaque coatings. Individual VO(2) nanoparticles undergo a localized plasmon resonance with near-infrared light at about 1100 nm and this resonance can be switched on and off by simply varying the temperature of the system. Therefore, incorporation of VO(2) nanoparticles into a coating system imbues the coating with the ability to self-adaptively modulate its own absorptive efficiency in the near-infrared. Here we examine the magnitude and control of this phenomenon. Prototype coatings are described, made using VO(2) powder produced by an improved process. The materials are characterized using calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and by measurement of optical properties.
Institute for Nanoscale Technology, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
Huaping
H
Bai
Michael B
MB
Cortie
Abbas I
AI
Maaroof
Annette
A
Dowd
Catherine
C
Kealley
Geoffrey B
GB
Smith
D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014639:Vanadium / Q000737:chemistry*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010087:Oxides; D014639:Vanadium