Anisotropic localized surface plasmon resonance of vanadium dioxide rods in flexible thermochromic film towards multifunctionality

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 230; p. 111163
• Main Authors: Xu, Qiyang, Ke, Yujie, Feng, Chengchen, Chen, Cong, Wen, Zuohao, Wang, Haoran, Sun, Miaoyang, Liu, Xinghai, Liu, Hai, Magdassi, Shlomo, Li, Houbin, Huang, Chi, Long, Yi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.09.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Modulation; Plasmonics; Polyurethane; Polyurethane resins; Resonance; Rods; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Smart materials; Smart window; Solar energy; Solar modulation; Surface plasmon resonance; Thermal insulation; Thermal management; Thermochromics; Time domain analysis; Transition temperature; Transition temperatures; Vanadium; Vanadium dioxide; Vanadium oxides; VO2; Wettability; Windows (apertures); Wettability; Solar modulation; Thermochromics; Smart window; VO2; Thermal management; Surface plasmon resonance
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2021.111163

Plasmonic thermochromic films are promising for smart window applications. Hereby, we develop a flexible plasmonic thermochromic film towards multifunctionality. The double-layer film consists of a bottom layer of W/Mg co-doped vanadium dioxide (VO2) rods in a polyurethane acrylate matrix and a top layer of hollow silica spheres (HSSs). Based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, we demonstrate for the first time, a transverse and a longitudinal mode of VO2 localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) in near- and mid-infrared bands, respectively, and only the transverse mode contributes to the solar energy modulation performance. The film shows a luminous transmittance of 46.2%, a solar energy modulation of 10.8%, and a critical transition temperature of 36.9 °C. The HSSs overcoating enhances the surface hydrophilicity and thermal insulation, which give rise to more favored functionalities for windows. [Display omitted] •The first identification of anisotropic LSPR on VO2 rods.•FDTD method proves only transverse mode of LSPR contributes to solar modulation.•Simultaneous improved flexibility, wettability, solar and thermal modulations.•The thermochromic film is promised for multifunctional smart windows.