First-principles investigation on solar radiation shielding performance of rutile VO2 filters for smart windows

Abstract

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) undergoing reversible metal-insulator phase transition could allow for the formation of an efficient thermochromic material for smart windows. However, solar radiation shielding performance is determined by transparent rutile VO2 filters, and the puzzling metal-insulator transition mechanism makes it challenging to explain the origin of the coexistence of strong near infrared absorption with high optical transparency. The band structure, the density of states, and the optical properties of rutile VO2 were calculated using the first-principles calculations. The calculated results of the structural and optical properties are in good agreement with the previously reported experimental findings. The calculated dielectric functions, electron energy-loss function and solar radiation shielding performance of the rutile VO2 filters indicate that rutile VO2 is a promising near-infrared absorption/reflectance material with the near-infrared radiation insulating abilities and a visible light transmittance. These properties arise from plasma oscillation and a collective oscillation (volume plasmons) of carrier electrons.