title: Preparation and characterization of VO₂(M)-SnO₂ thermochromic films for application as energy-saving smart coatings.
abstract: Novel VO2(M)/SnO2 heterostructured nanorods are prepared by combining the conventional hydrothermal synthesis method and post annealing process. The results reveal that the nanosized SnO2 particles are not only successfully grown on the surface of the VO2 nanorods but also uniformly distribute on VO2 without aggregation. The existence of the SnO2 nanoparticles inhibits the aggregation during the annealing process and widens the band gap of the VO2 crystals from 0.75 to 1.7 eV. The two aspects can both improve the optical properties of the VO2(M)/SnO2 composite film. The visible transmittance is up to 35.7% and the IR modulation at 2500 nm is more than 56%, which were much higher than the pure VO2(M) film. In addition, the SnO2 layer could reduce the width of the hysteresis from 17.8 to 10.7°C caused by Sn-doping and enhance the sensitivity. We believe that the VO2(M)/SnO2 heterostructured coating is a good candidate for smart windows.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dingxi 1295, Changning, Shanghai 200050, China; Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dingxi 1295, Changning, Shanghai 200050, China. Electronic address: sdki@mail.sic.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Shidong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dingxi 1295, Changning, Shanghai 200050, China; Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dingxi 1295, Changning, Shanghai 200050, China; Materials Research Institute for Sustainable Development, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2266-98 Shimoshidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya 463-8560, Japan. Electronic address: p-jin@mail.sic.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
keywords: Hydrothermal treatment; Nanorods; Semiconductor–metal transition; Thermochromic properties; VO(2)–SnO(2) heterostructures; Vanadium dioxide