Abstract

Vanadium dioxide (${{\rm VO}_2}$) is an ideal thermochromic smart window material for its infrared optical properties accompanied by reversible semiconductor-to-metal phase transition. However, it is still faced with insufficient solar energy modulation efficiency and low luminous transmittance. In order to further improve the thermochromic performance of ${{\rm VO}_2}$ thin film, we proposed a ${{\rm VO}_2}/{{\rm SiO}_2}/{{\rm VO}_2}$ composite spherical structure film composed of a ${{\rm VO}_2}/{{\rm SiO}_2}$ microsphere antireflection structure and ${{\rm VO}_2}$ single-layer film structure. This composite spherical structure film can form a Fabry–Perot cavity-like structure when ${{\rm VO}_2}$ changes to a metal state at high temperature, which can enhance the absorption of near-infrared light. The solar energy modulation efficiency and visible light transmittance were improved simultaneously compared to a single-layer film microsphere structure with the same ${{\rm VO}_2}$ thickness. The solar energy modulation efficiency was improved from 3.11% to 7.65% by increasing the difference in transmittance between the semiconductor phase and the metal phase, and the luminous transmittance was enhanced from 51.53% to 57.23% at the optimized top thickness of 25 nm and bottom thickness of 54 nm. This optical study of composite structure film will lay a foundation for the application of ${{\rm VO}_2}$ film in thermochromic smart windows.

© 2022 Optica Publishing Group

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