Self-rolling of vanadium dioxide nanomembranes for enhanced multi-level solar modulation Article Swipe
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· 2022
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35513-w
· OA: W4312095808
Thermochromic 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 ( $${\triangle T}_{{{{{{{\rm{sol}}}}}}}}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>△</mml:mo> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>sol</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> ) of thermochromic windows while ensuring high luminous transmittance ( $${T}_{{{{{{{\rm{lum}}}}}}}}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>lum</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> ) 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 (VO 2 ) 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 VO 2 nanomembranes upon the phase transition. Under geometry design and optimization, the rolled-up smart window with high $${\triangle T}_{{{{\rm{sol}}}}}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>△</mml:mo> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>sol</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> and $${T}_{{{{{{\rm{lum}}}}}}}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>lum</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> 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.
