Surface engineering on continuous VO2 thin films to improve thermochromic properties : top-down acid etching and bottom-up self-patterning

• Main Authors: Wang, Ning, Peh, Yew Keat, Magdassi, Shlomo, Long, Yi
• Other Authors: School of Materials Science & Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Surface Engineering; Thermochromic Properties; Engineering::Materials
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/86092; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/49253
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Surface engineering is an effective method to improve the thermochromic performance of VO2. In this paper, an acid-etching top down method was proposed to tailor the VO2 surface morphology from the continuous dense-packed surface to patterned structure, which exhibited the enhanced integrated visible transmittance (Tlum) and the enlarged solar modulating abilities (ΔTsol). Moreover, a self-patterning approach was also illustrated to improve the thermochromic properties. The proposed surface engineering methods represent a facile and cost-effective approach for enhancing thermochromic properties that could promote the application of VO2 thin films in smart windows.