Mitigating Deterioration of Vanadium Dioxide Thermochromic Films by Interfacial Encapsulation

Summary Long-term stability is the most pressing issue that impedes commercialization of vanadium dioxide (VO2)-based functional films, which show a gradual loss of relative phase-transition performance, especially in humid conditions when serving as smart windows. Here, we have investigated the impact of different interface on the deterioration process of VO2 films and proposed an encapsulation structure for greatly extended service life. Hydrophobic and stable hafnium dioxide (HfO2) layers have been incorporated with VO2 films for encapsulated surfaces and cross-sections. With modified thickness and structure of HfO2 layers, the degradation process of VO2 can be effectively suppressed. The proposed films can retain stable phase-transition performances under high relative humidity (90%) and temperature (60°C) over 100 days, which is equal to ∼16 years in the real environment. Improving the stability of VO2 materials is a necessary step toward commercializing the production of high-performance films for long-term use.

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