Potential low powered smart window coating using a stoichiometrically downgraded vanadium oxide thin film structure

Makhes K Behera,Leslie C Williams,Sangram K Pradhan,Messaoud Bahoura

doi:10.1063/1.5145019

Abstract

With a metal to insulator transition (MIT) temperature of ∼68 °C to 70 °C, which is close to room temperature (RT), vanadium oxide (VO2) has piqued interest in research communities for several applications, such as Mott-transistors and smart windows. This unique characteristic and multi-faceted application of VO2 makes it ideal for several fields, from consumer electronics to defense applications. However, despite this advantage over several other materials, VO2 has some serious shortcomings. In this paper, we attempt to address these issues, such as higher than RT transition temperature, metastability of the material, and its need for a separate heater layer to trigger the MIT, by using a stoichiometrically downgraded multi-layered structure that can both demonstrate the MIT property and serve as an embedded heater layer. This eliminates the need to use a system with a different material such as aluminum-doped zinc oxide. By using the multi-layered structure, we were able to achieve a transition temperature of ∼48 °C, which is ∼22 °C lower than the transition temperature of bulk VO2 films. We also noted a reduction of over 50% in transmission in the infra-red region by application of less than 15 V, as well as an enhancement of ∼10% in the visible region transmission beyond the MIT temperature, which demonstrates the potential of this structure to be used as an energy-efficient smart window device.

Highlights

The impending energy crisis trumps everything on the list of major issues to be faced by humanity in the 50 years
Another major issue associated with the HVAC system is the use of freons, which are a major contributor to adverse environmental effects, such as global warming
The faster repetition rate and low oxygen partial pressure of deposition for the vanadium oxide (VOx) result in an oxygen-deficient film

Summary

Introduction

The impending energy crisis trumps everything on the list of major issues to be faced by humanity in the 50 years. One aspect of our daily lives that is predominant is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in our houses, which are essentially responsible for regulating the temperatures in our homes and office buildings. Despite their obvious advantages, HVAC systems still account for ∼40% to 50% of the total energy consumed by any residential or commercial building.. HVAC systems still account for ∼40% to 50% of the total energy consumed by any residential or commercial building. Another major issue associated with the HVAC system is the use of freons, which are a major contributor to adverse environmental effects, such as global warming

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