VO2(M)@SnO2 core–shell nanoparticles: Improved chemical stability and thermochromic property rendered by SnO2 shell

Abstract

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) has been extensively studied as a thermochromic material for smart windows. However, the poor oxidation stability of VO2 hinders its practical applications. In this paper, to improve the oxidation stability of VO2, the core–shell VO2(M)@SnO2 nanoparticles are synthesized by a solvothermal method. The chemical stability experiments indicate that the SnO2 coating effectively protects VO2 nanoparticles from acid corrosion and oxidation. Moreover, the core–shell structure is proved to enhance the near-infrared modulation ability (ΔTNIR) without impairing the visible light transmittance by both experiments and calculations. The results suggest the promising application of VO2(M)@SnO2 nanoparticles in flexible smart windows and demonstrate that the inorganic optical coating is an effective way in enhancing durability and solar modulation ability of VO2 nanoparticles.