Pt/VO sub(2) double-layered films combining thermochromic properties with low emissivity

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 94; no. 12; pp. 2078 - 2084
• Main Authors: Kang, Litao, Gao, Yanfeng, Chen, Zhang, Du, Jing, Zhang, Zongtao, Luo, Hongjie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2010
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2010.06.023
• ISSN: 0927-0248

This study involves the optical properties of Pt/VO sub(2) composite films, with a Pt top layer and a VO sub(2) bottom layer. VO sub(2) and Pt films were grown on fused silica substrates by polymer-assisted deposition and sputtering, respectively. These Pt/VO sub(2) films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible-NIR spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, four-point probe and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that these Pt/VO sub(2) films can enhance the infrared reflectivity while retaining their thermochromic properties. Although the visible transmittance is depressed by these Pt layers, the addition of antireflection coatings boosts the transmittance from 25.1% to 37.9% at 0.55 km. In addition, the semiconductor-metal (S-M) transition temperatures of Pt/VO sub(2) films shift to lower temperatures in the heating semicycle (T sub()c,h, from 67.8 C for a pure VO sub(2) film to 58.5 C for a VO sub(2) film covered with a 9 nm Pt layer. This work provides an important prototype structure for the development of new smart windows that combine thermochromic properties with low emissivity.