Gate-controlled VO<sub>2</sub> phase transition for high-performance smart windows.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 30931391.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aav6815 and PMC identifier 6435443.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Vanadium dioxide (VO<sub>2</sub>) is a promising material for developing energy-saving "smart windows," owing to its infrared thermochromism induced by metal-insulator transition (MIT). However, its practical application is greatly limited by its relatively high critical temperature (~68°C), low luminous transmittance (<60%), and poor solar energy regulation ability (<15%). Here, we developed a reversible and nonvolatile electric field control of the MIT of a monoclinic VO<sub>2</sub> film. With a solid electrolyte layer assisting gating treatment, we modulated the insertion/extraction of hydrogen into/from the VO<sub>2</sub> lattice at room temperature, causing tristate phase transitions that enable control of light transmittance. The dramatic increase in visible/infrared transmittance due to the phase transition from the metallic (lightly H-doped) to the insulating (heavily H-doped) phase results in an increased solar energy regulation ability up to 26.5%, while maintaining 70.8% visible luminous transmittance. These results break all previous records and exceed the theoretical limit for traditional VO<sub>2</sub> smart windows, making them ready for energy-saving utilization.