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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2025

An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation

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Phase-change VO₂-based thermochromic smart windows.

Cancheng Jiang¹, Lanyue He¹, Qingdong Xuan²

¹Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Centre for Functional Photonics, and Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China.

Light, Science & Applications

|September 18, 2024

Summary

Thermochromic coatings using vanadium dioxide (VO2) smart windows dynamically regulate heat gain, reducing building energy consumption. Advancements in VO2 materials and structures enhance performance for sustainable building design.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Sustainable Building Design

Background:

Thermochromic coatings offer dynamic solar heat gain control for energy-efficient windows.
Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a key material for smart windows due to its reversible metal-to-insulator transition (MIT).

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in VO2-based thermochromic coatings for smart windows.
To explore material modifications, structural designs, and fabrication techniques for enhanced performance.
To discuss alternative materials and future prospects for sustainable building applications.

Main Methods:

Review of literature on VO2 thermochromic coatings.
Analysis of elemental doping and micro/nano-engineering strategies.
Examination of hybrid structures and fabrication methods.

Main Results:

Hybridizing VO2 with other materials and employing specific structures (e.g., core-shell, optical cavity) allows fine-tuning of MIT temperature and optical properties.
Elemental doping and micro/nano-engineering significantly impact VO2's near-infrared (NIR) modulation capabilities.
Various fabrication strategies enable control over solar modulation in VO2 films.

Conclusions:

VO2-based thermochromic smart windows show significant potential for improving building energy efficiency.
Hybrid structures and advanced engineering offer pathways to overcome VO2 limitations.
Further research into complementary materials and practical applications is crucial for sustainable building design.