Nanothermochromics: Calculations for VO2 nanoparticles in dielectric hosts show much improved luminous transmittance and solar energy transmittance modulation

VO2-based films are thermochromic and show infrared reflectance above a "critical" temperature in the vicinity of room temperature. Implementations on energy efficient windows have been discussed for decades but have been severely curtailed since the luminous absorptance is undesirably large and the solar energy transmittance modulation is too small. Here we show by calculations based on effective medium theory that dilute composites with VO2 nanoparticles embedded in hosts with properties mimicking glass or polymer can yield significantly decreased luminous absorption jointly with much enhanced transmittance modulation of solar energy. These results demonstrate that VO2-based nanothermochromics opens new avenues toward energy efficient fenestration. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3487980]