VO2 thermochromic smart window for energy savings and generation

The ability to achieve energy saving in architectures and optimal solar energy utilisation affects the sustainable development of the human race. Traditional smart windows and solar cells cannot be combined into one device for energy saving and electricity generation. A VO2 film can respond to the environmental temperature to intelligently regulate infrared transmittance while maintaining visible transparency, and can be applied as a thermochromic smart window. Herein, we report for the first time a novel VO2-based smart window that partially utilises light scattering to solar cells around the glass panel for electricity generation. This smart window combines energy-saving and generation in one device, and offers potential to intelligently regulate and utilise solar radiation in an efficient manner.

[1]  N. C. Strugnell,et al.  First operational BRDF, albedo nadir reflectance products from MODIS , 2002 .

[2]  W J Stark,et al.  Thermoresponsive Polymer Induced Sweating Surfaces as an Efficient Way to Passively Cool Buildings , 2012, Advanced materials.

[3]  Logan K. Ausman,et al.  Methods for describing the electromagnetic properties of silver and gold nanoparticles. , 2008, Accounts of chemical research.

[4]  Qingling Liu,et al.  Erratum : Strong and binder free structured zeolite sorbents with very high CO2-over-N-2 selectivities and high capacities to adsorb CO2 rapidly (vol 5, pg 7664, 2012) , 2012 .

[5]  M. Kanatzidis,et al.  All-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells with high efficiency , 2012, Nature.

[6]  C. Granqvist,et al.  Thermochromic fenestration with VO2-based materials: Three challenges and how they can be met , 2012 .

[7]  Yanfeng Gao,et al.  Pure Single-Crystal Rutile Vanadium Dioxide Powders: Synthesis, Mechanism and Phase-Transformation Property , 2008 .

[8]  Wei Li,et al.  A versatile kinetics-controlled coating method to construct uniform porous TiO2 shells for multifunctional core-shell structures. , 2012, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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

[10]  Yanfeng Gao,et al.  VO2–Sb:SnO2 composite thermochromic smart glass foil , 2012 .

[11]  A. Scharmann,et al.  W- and F-doped VO2 films studied by photoelectron spectrometry , 1999 .

[12]  Arild Gustavsen,et al.  Properties, Requirements and Possibilities of Smart Windows for Dynamic Daylight and Solar Energy Control in Buildings: A State-of-the-Art Review , 2010 .

[13]  Ken Tomabechi,et al.  Energy Resources in the Future , 1994 .

[14]  Valentin D. Mihailetchi,et al.  Device Physics of Polymer:Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells , 2007 .

[15]  John B. Goodenough,et al.  The two components of the crystallographic transition in VO2 , 1971 .

[16]  Viresh Dutta,et al.  Thin‐film solar cells: an overview , 2004 .

[17]  Shuit-Tong Lee,et al.  Silicon Nanowires for Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion , 2011 .

[18]  陈长,et al.  Thermochromic VO2 Thin Films: Solution-Based Processing, Improved Optical Properties, and Lowered Phase Transformation Temperature , 2010 .

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

[20]  Moon-Hee Lee,et al.  Thermochromic glazing of windows with better luminous solar transmittance , 2002 .

[21]  Gang Xu,et al.  A VO2-Based Multifunctional Window with Highly Improved Luminous Transmittance , 2002 .

[22]  Yanfeng Gao,et al.  Thermochromic VO2 thin films: solution-based processing, improved optical properties, and lowered phase transformation temperature. , 2010, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[23]  R. Tscharner,et al.  Photovoltaic technology: the case for thin-film solar cells , 1999, Science.

[24]  Claes-Göran Granqvist,et al.  Optical properties of Mg-doped VO2: Absorption measurements and hybrid functional calculations , 2012 .

[25]  Byung-Gyu Chae,et al.  Mott Transition in VO2 Revealed by Infrared Spectroscopy and Nano-Imaging , 2007, Science.

[26]  A. Majumdar,et al.  Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future , 2012, Nature.

[27]  Heli Jantunen,et al.  IR-wavelength optical shutter based on ITO/VO2/ITO thin film stack , 2011 .

[28]  Yanfeng Gao,et al.  Enhanced chemical stability of VO2 nanoparticles by the formation of SiO2/VO2 core/shell structures and the application to transparent and flexible VO2-based composite foils with excellent thermochromic properties for solar heat control , 2012 .

[29]  M. Kawasaki,et al.  Collective bulk carrier delocalization driven by electrostatic surface charge accumulation , 2012, Nature.

[30]  Jing Liang,et al.  Functional Materials for Rechargeable Batteries , 2011, Advanced materials.

[31]  Edward H. Sargent,et al.  Materials interface engineering for solution-processed photovoltaics , 2012, Nature.

[32]  J. Hodkinson,et al.  Particle sizing by means of the forward scattering lobe. , 1966, Applied optics.

[33]  Xin Zhang,et al.  Terahertz-field-induced insulator-to-metal transition in vanadium dioxide metamaterial , 2012, Nature.