Abstract
Highly transparent, energy-saving, and superhydrophobic nanostructured SiO2/VO2 composite films have been fabricated using a sol–gel method. These composite films are composed of an underlying infrared (IR)-regulating VO2 layer and a top protective layer that consists of SiO2 nanoparticles. Experimental results showed that the composite structure could enhance the IR light regulation performance, solar modulation capability, and hydrophobicity of the pristine VO2 layer. The transmittance of the composite films in visible region (Tlum) was higher than 60%, which was sufficient to meet the requirements of glass lighting. Compared with pristine VO2 films and tungsten-doped VO2 film, the near IR control capability of the composite films was enhanced by 13.9% and 22.1%, respectively, whereas their solar modulation capability was enhanced by 10.9% and 22.9%, respectively. The water contact angles of the SiO2/VO2 composite films were over 150°, indicating superhydrophobicity. The transparent superhydrophobic surface exhibited a high stability toward illumination as all the films retained their initial superhydrophobicity even after exposure to 365 nm light with an intensity of 160 mW.cm−2 for 10 h. In addition, the films possessed anti-oxidation and anti-acid properties. These characteristics are highly advantageous for intelligent windows or solar cell applications, given that they can provide surfaces with anti-fogging, rainproofing, and self-cleaning effects. Our technique offers a simple and low-cost solution to the development of stable and visible light transparent superhydrophobic surfaces for industrial applications.
Highlights
The potential application of VO2 thin films to intelligent windows has received considerable attention because of the over-increasing consumption of primary energy sources in recent decades [1−3]
The results indicate that SiO2/VO2 composite films were marked as (SiO2)/VO2 composite films can withstand acidic treatment due to the protection of the SiO2 hydrophobic layer
Highly transparent, IR-regulating and superhydrophobic nanostructured SiO2/VO2 composite films were fabricated via a sol–gel approach
Summary
The potential application of VO2 thin films to intelligent windows has received considerable attention because of the over-increasing consumption of primary energy sources in recent decades [1−3]. Metal ion doping of VO2 thin films and the preparation of effective composite films are two main strategies for reducing phase transition temperature and improving transmittance, regulation rate, and anti-oxidant capacity of VO2 thin film. Micro-patterned VO2 films were fabricated by Lu et al using a facile screen printing method; the best performing sample gave 43.3% Tlum and 14.9% ∆Tsol, which were comparable to most approaches used to enhance thermochromic properties [38]. Superhydrophobic surfaces, such as composite films on glasses and metals, have many unique properties, such as self-cleaning, anti-sticking, anti-icing, anti-biofouling, water and bacteria proofing, drag reduction, and humidity proofing [39−43]. Our technique offers a simple and low-cost solution to the development of stable and highly visible light transparent composite films for potential industrial applications
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