Chemical vapour deposition of thermochromic vanadium dioxide thin films for energy efficient glazing

• Vanadium dioxide thin films for energy efficient glazing.
• Reviews chemical vapour deposition techniques.
• Latest results for thin film deposition for vanadium dioxide.

Vanadium dioxide is a thermochromic material that undergoes a semiconductor to metal transitions at a critical temperature of 68 °C. This phase change from a low temperature monoclinic structure to a higher temperature rutile structure is accompanied by a marked change in infrared reflectivity and change in resistivity. This ability to have a temperature-modulated film that can limit solar heat gain makes vanadium dioxide an ideal candidate for thermochromic energy efficient glazing. In this review we detail the current challenges to such glazing becoming a commercial reality and describe the key chemical vapour deposition technologies being employed in the latest research.

Schematic demonstration of the effect of thermochromic glazing on solar radiation (red arrow represents IR radiation, black arrow represents all other solar radiation).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide