Use of ZnO as antireflective, protective, antibacterial, and biocompatible multifunction nanolayer of thermochromic VO2 nanofilm for intelligent windows

Abstract A multifunctional VO2/ZnO bilayer film is designed and deposited by magnetron sputtering apparatus. The integration of the antireflective, antioxidative and anti-corrosion functions, and antibacterial performance makes the heterostructure film a promising candidate in the energy-saving smart window. The ZnO thin film as the antireflection layer can markedly boost the solar regulation efficiency (ΔTsol) from 7.7% to 12.2% and possesses excellent luminous transmittance (Tlum-L = 50.3%) in the low-temperature semiconductor phase. The ZnO layer as the protection barrier can not only protect VO2 thin film from oxidation to much toxic V2O5, but also decrease the release of V ions. Besides, the synergistic effect of releasing killing by Zn2+ ions and contact killing by ZnO NPs makes ZnO thin film an outstanding antibacterial coating. In terms of the biological safety, ZnO coating with appropriate film thickness can effectively attenuate the cytotoxicity of VO2 on human HIBEpiC cells. We hope this work can provide new insights for better designing of novel multifunctional VO2-based intelligent energy-saving windows.

[1]  Ivan P. Parkin,et al.  Intelligent thermochromic windows , 2006 .

[2]  Nevill Francis Mott,et al.  Metal-insulator transition in vanadium dioxide , 1975 .

[3]  B. Mukherjee,et al.  Vanadium--an element of atypical biological significance. , 2004, Toxicology letters.

[4]  D. N. Basov,et al.  Electrodynamics of the vanadium oxides VO2 and V2O3 , 2008, 0803.2739.

[5]  Yan Hu,et al.  Regulation of the biological functions of osteoblasts and bone formation by Zn-incorporated coating on microrough titanium. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[6]  Lutz Mädler,et al.  Toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles in Escherichia coli correlates with conduction band and hydration energies. , 2015, Environmental science & technology.

[7]  C. Goswami,et al.  Topical application of zinc oxide nanoparticles reduces bacterial skin infection in mice and exhibits antibacterial activity by inducing oxidative stress response and cell membrane disintegration in macrophages. , 2014, Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine.

[8]  Michael V. Liga,et al.  Antimicrobial nanomaterials for water disinfection and microbial control: potential applications and implications. , 2008, Water research.

[9]  J. Leckie,et al.  Surface complexation models: An evaluation of model parameter estimation using FITEQL and oxide mineral titration data , 1991 .

[10]  P. Chu,et al.  Stimulation of bone growth following zinc incorporation into biomaterials. , 2014, Biomaterials.

[11]  Harald F Krug,et al.  Nanoparticulate vanadium oxide potentiated vanadium toxicity in human lung cells. , 2007, Environmental science & technology.

[12]  J. Leckie,et al.  Surface ionization and complexation at the oxide/water interface , 1978 .

[13]  Claes-Göran Granqvist,et al.  Nanothermochromics: Calculations for VO2 nanoparticles in dielectric hosts show much improved luminous transmittance and solar energy transmittance modulation , 2010 .

[14]  M. Benedetti,et al.  Toxicological impact studies based on Escherichia coli bacteria in ultrafine ZnO nanoparticles colloidal medium. , 2006, Nano letters.

[15]  P. Jin,et al.  Surface plasmon resonance tunability in VO2/Au/VO2 thermochromic structure , 2014 .

[16]  W. Benecke,et al.  Direct Growth of Freestanding ZnO Tetrapod Networks for Multifunctional Applications in Photocatalysis, UV Photodetection, and Gas Sensing. , 2015, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[17]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Piezo-potential enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic dye using ZnO nanowires , 2015 .

[18]  H. Degani,et al.  Vanadium in Biological Systems , 1990, Springer Netherlands.

[19]  R. Vallée,et al.  Fabrication of high-quality VO2 thin films by ion-assisted dual ac magnetron sputtering. , 2013, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[20]  Guoqiang Tan,et al.  VO2-based double-layered films for smart windows: Optical design, all-solution preparation and improved properties , 2011 .

[21]  Hong Liu,et al.  ZnO Pyramidal Arrays: Novel Functionality in Antireflection , 2010 .

[22]  S. M. Ahmed.  STUDIES OF THE DISSOCIATION OF OXIDE SURFACES AT THE LIQUID–SOLID INTERFACE , 1966 .

[23]  Zongtao Zhang,et al.  Nanoceramic VO2 thermochromic smart glass: A review on progress in solution processing , 2012 .

[24]  S. S. Soares,et al.  Vanadate induces necrotic death in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes through mitochondrial membrane depolarization. , 2008, Chemical research in toxicology.

[25]  J. Domingo,et al.  Acute toxicity of vanadium compounds in rats and mice. , 1984, Toxicology letters.

[26]  Sok-Won Kim,et al.  Optical properties for the Mott transition in VO2 , 2012 .

[27]  J. Haseman,et al.  Carcinogenicity of inhaled vanadium pentoxide in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. , 2003, Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.

[28]  Gang Xu,et al.  Optimization of antireflection coating for VO2-based energy efficient window , 2004 .

[29]  Yanfeng Gao,et al.  F-doped VO2 nanoparticles for thermochromic energy-saving foils with modified color and enhanced solar-heat shielding ability. , 2013, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP.

[30]  Jinhua Li,et al.  Antimicrobial activity and cytocompatibility of Ag plasma-modified hierarchical TiO2 film on titanium surface. , 2014, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[31]  A. Scharmann,et al.  Plasmon excitation in vanadium dioxide films , 1997 .

[32]  Amulya K. N. Reddy,et al.  Modern Electrochemistry: An Introduction to an Interdisciplinary Area , 1995 .

[33]  Yong Ding,et al.  Phase and shape controlled VO2 nanostructures by antimony doping , 2012 .

[34]  Peng Zhang,et al.  High photocatalytic activity of ZnO-carbon nanofiber heteroarchitectures. , 2011, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[35]  Yanfeng Gao,et al.  Solution-based fabrication of vanadium dioxide on F:SnO2 substrates with largely enhanced thermochromism and low-emissivity for energy-saving applications , 2011 .

[36]  Magali A. Delmas,et al.  Nonprice incentives and energy conservation , 2015, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[37]  C. N. Berglund,et al.  Optical Properties of V O 2 between 0.25 and 5 eV , 1968 .

[38]  D. Fuerstenau,et al.  The zero point of charge of alpha-alumina , 1964 .

[39]  M. Cronin,et al.  Metals, toxicity and oxidative stress. , 2005, Current medicinal chemistry.

[40]  M. Aureliano,et al.  Decavanadate effects in biological systems. , 2005, Journal of inorganic biochemistry.

[41]  T. Valdés-Solís,et al.  Shape and size effects of ZnO nanocrystals on photocatalytic activity. , 2009, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[42]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Optimizing and Improving the Growth Quality of ZnO Nanowire Arrays Guided by Statistical Design of Experiments. , 2009, ACS nano.

[43]  D. Rehder.  Vanadium. Its Role for Humans , 2013, Metal ions in life sciences.

[44]  Yijia Gu,et al.  Extended mapping and exploration of the vanadium dioxide stress-temperature phase diagram. , 2010, Nano letters.

[45]  Yanfeng Gao,et al.  A novel solution process for the synthesis of VO2 thin films with excellent thermochromic properties. , 2009, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[46]  George A. Parks,et al.  The Isoelectric Points of Solid Oxides, Solid Hydroxides, and Aqueous Hydroxo Complex Systems , 1965 .

[47]  Kazuo Kobayashi,et al.  Pentavalent vanadium induces hepatic metallothionein through interleukin-6-dependent and -independent mechanisms. , 2006, Toxicology.

[48]  Liuming Yan,et al.  Mg-doped VO2 nanoparticles: hydrothermal synthesis, enhanced visible transmittance and decreased metal-insulator transition temperature. , 2013, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP.

[49]  Kinetics of Iodine-Free Redox Shuttles in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Interfacial Recombination and Dye Regeneration. , 2015, Accounts of chemical research.

[50]  Lin Yao,et al.  Recent progress in antireflection and self-cleaning technology – From surface engineering to functional surfaces , 2014 .

[51]  M. Aureliano.  Decavanadate: a journey in a search of a role. , 2009, Dalton transactions.

[52]  L. Levy,et al.  A Review of Current Toxicological Concerns on Vanadium Pentoxide and Other Vanadium Compounds: Gaps in Knowledge and Directions for Future Research , 2009, Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews.

[53]  J. Hsu,et al.  ZnO nanostructures as efficient antireflection layers in solar cells. , 2008, Nano letters.

[54]  Jeremy Goldman,et al.  Zinc Exhibits Ideal Physiological Corrosion Behavior for Bioabsorbable Stents , 2013, Advanced materials.