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

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) undergoing reversiblemetal-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 puzzlingmetal-insulator transition mechanism makes it challenging to explain the origin of the coexistence of strongnear infraredabsorption with high optical transparency. Theband structure, the density of states, and theoptical properties of rutile VO2 were calculated using the first-principles calculations. The calculated results of the structural andoptical properties are in good agreement with the previously reported experimental findings. The calculated dielectric functions, electron energy-loss function andsolar radiation shielding performance of the rutile VO2 filters indicate that rutile VO2 is a promisingnear-infrared absorption/reflectance material with thenear-infraredradiation insulating abilities and avisible light transmittance. These properties arise from plasma oscillation and a collective oscillation (volume plasmons) of carrier electrons.

Source: Applied Physics Letters - November 11, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Lihua Xiao, Yuchang Su, Wei Qiu, Jingyu Ran, Yike Liu, Jianming Wu, Fanghai Lu, Fang Shao and Ping Peng Source Type: research