Facile Synthesis of Island-like ZrO2-VO2 Composite Films with Enhanced Thermochromic Performance for Smart Windows

VO2-based film, as a very promising thermochromic material for smart windows, has attracted extensive attention but has not been widely applied because it is difficult to simultaneously improve in terms of both solar-modulation efficiency (ΔTsol) and visible transmittance (Tlum) when made using the magnetron-sputtering method, and it has poor durability when made using the wet chemical method. Herein, island-like ZrO2-VO2 composite films with improved thermochromic performance (ΔTsol: 12.6%, Tlum: 45.0%) were created using a simple approach combining a dual magnetron-sputtering and acid-solution procedure. The film’s ΔTsol and Tlum values were increased initially and subsequently declined as the sputtering power of the ZrO2 target was raised from 30 W to 120 W. ΔTsol achieved its maximum of 12.6% at 60 W, and Tlum reached its maximum of 51.1% at 90 W. This is likely the result of the interaction of two opposing effects: Some VO2 nanocrystals in the composite film were isolated by a few ZrO2 grains, and some pores could utilize their surface-plasmon-resonance effect at high temperature to absorb some near-infrared light for an enhanced ΔTsol and Tlum. More ZrO2 grains means fewer VO2 grains in the composite film and increased film thickness, which also results in a decrease in ΔTsol and Tlum. As a result, this work may offer a facile strategy to prepare VO2-based films with high thermochromic performance and promote their application in smart windows.