Self-rolling of vanadium dioxide nanomembranes for enhanced multi-level solar modulation

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35513-w
• Publication Date: 2022-12-19T14:04:18Z
• Authors: Xing Li; Cuicui Cao; Chang Liu; Wenhao He; Kaibo Wu; Yang Wang; Borui Xu; Ziao Tian; Enming Song; Jizhai Cui; Gaoshan Huang; Changlin Zheng; Zengfeng Di; Xun Cao; Yongfeng Mei
• Keywords: 13. Climate action; Science; Q; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 7. Clean energy; Article

AbstractThermochromic window develops as a competitive solution for carbon emissions due to comprehensive advantages of its passivity and effective utilization of energy. How to further enhance the solar modulation ($${\triangle T}_{{{{{{{\rm{sol}}}}}}}}$$

△ T

sol

) of thermochromic windows while ensuring high luminous transmittance ($${T}_{{{{{{{\rm{lum}}}}}}}}$$

T

lum

) becomes the latest challenge to touch the limit of energy efficiency. Here, we show a smart window combining mechanochromism with thermochromism by self-rolling of vanadium dioxide (VO2) nanomembranes to enhance multi-level solar modulation. The mechanochromism is introduced by the temperature-controlled regulation of curvature of rolled-up smart window, which benefits from effective strain adjustment in VO2 nanomembranes upon the phase transition. Under geometry design and optimization, the rolled-up smart window with high $${\triangle T}_{{{{\rm{sol}}}}}$$

△ T

sol

and $${T}_{{{{{{\rm{lum}}}}}}}$$

T

lum

is achieved for the modulation of indoor temperature self-adapted to seasons and climate. Furthermore, such rolled-up smart window enables high infrared reflectance after triggered phase transition and acts as a smart lens protective cover for strong radiation. This work supports the feasibility of self-rolling technology in smart windows and lens protection, which promises broad interest and practical applications of self-adapting devices and systems for smart building, intelligent sensors and actuators with the perspective of energy efficiency.