Direct formation of thermochromic composite films of VO2 nanoparticles in SiO2 hosts

Abstract

Vanadium dioxide (VO₂) is a key material for modern thermochromic energy-efficient window coatings. Nanocomposite VO₂-SiO₂ films were fabricated by reactive magnetron sputtering. VO₂ nanoparticles with grain sizes of about 100 nm were distributed uniformly in the SiO₂ host, and the composite film showed excellent thermochromic properties with plasmonic effect.