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Khanyile BS, Numan N, Simo A, Nkosi M, Mtshali CB, Khumalo Z, Madiba IG, Mabakachaba B, Swart H, Coetsee-Hugo E, Duvenhage MM, Lee E, Henini M, Gibaud A, Chaker M, Rezaee P, Lethole N, Akbari M, Morad R, Maaza M. Towards Room Temperature Thermochromic Coatings with controllable NIR-IR modulation for solar heat management & smart windows applications. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2818. [PMID: 38307893 PMCID: PMC10837131 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52021-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Solar heat management & green air-conditioning are among the major technologies that could mitigate heat islands phenomenon while minimizing significantly the CO2 global foot-print within the building & automotive sectors. Chromogenic materials in general, and thermochromic smart coatings especially are promising candidates that consent a noteworthy dynamic solar radiation Infrared (NIR-IR) regulation and hence an efficient solar heat management especially with the expected increase of the global seasonal temperature. Within this contribution, two major challenging bottlenecks in vanadium oxide based smart coatings were addressed. It is validated for the first time that the NIR-IR modulation of the optical transmission (∆TTRANS = T(T〈TMIT) - T(T〉TMIT) of Vanadium oxide based smart coatings can be controlled & tuned. This upmost challenging bottle-neck controllability/tunability is confirmed via a genuine approach alongside to a simultaneous drastic reduction of the phase transition temperature TMIT from 68.8 °C to nearly room temperature. More precisely, a substantial thermochromism in multilayered V2O5/V/V2O5 stacks equivalent to that of standard pure VO2 thin films but with a far lower transition temperature, is reported. Such a multilayered V2O5/V/V2O5 thermochromic system exhibited a net control & tunability of the optical transmission modulation in the NIR-IR (∆TTRANS) via the nano-scaled thickness' control of the intermediate Vanadium layer. In addition, the control of ∆TTRANS is accompanied by a tremendous diminution of the thermochromic transition temperature from the elevated bulk value of 68.8 °C to the range of 27.5-37.5 ºC. The observed remarkable and reversible thermochromism in such multilayered nano-scaled system of V2O5/V/V2O5 is likely to be ascribed to a noteworthy interfacial diffusion, and an indirect doping by alkaline ions diffusing from the borosilicate substrate. It is hoped that the current findings would contribute in advancing thermochromic smart window technology and their applications for solar heat management in glass windows in general, skyscraper especially & in the automotive industry. If so, this would open a path to a sustainable green air-conditioning with zero-energy input.
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Affiliation(s)
- B S Khanyile
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa.
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa.
| | - N Numan
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
| | - A Simo
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
| | - M Nkosi
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
| | - C B Mtshali
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
| | - Z Khumalo
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
| | - I G Madiba
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
| | - B Mabakachaba
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
- Physics Department, University of the Western Cape, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa
| | - H Swart
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Physics Department, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, Republic of South Africa
| | - E Coetsee-Hugo
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Physics Department, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, Republic of South Africa
| | - Mart-Mari Duvenhage
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Physics Department, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, Republic of South Africa
| | - E Lee
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Physics Department, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, Republic of South Africa
| | - M Henini
- School of Physics & Astronomy, Nottingham University, Nottingham, NG7 2RD7, UK
| | - A Gibaud
- IMMM, UMR 6283 CNRS, Bd O. Messiaen, University of Le Maine, 72085, Le Mans Cedex 09, France
| | - M Chaker
- INRS-Energie et Matériaux, 1650 Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - P Rezaee
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
| | - N Lethole
- Department Physics, University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
| | - M Akbari
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
| | - R Morad
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa
| | - M Maaza
- MRD-Tandetron Accelerator & Nanosciences African Network, iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa.
- UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 003, South Africa.
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Hu M, Li X, Heller WT, Bras W, Rzayev J, Russell TP. Using Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle Neutron Scattering to Study the Orientation of Block Copolymer Morphologies in Thin Films. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingqiu Hu
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Xindi Li
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260-3000, United States
| | - William T. Heller
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008,
MS-6473, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Wim Bras
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, MS-6131, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Javid Rzayev
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260-3000, United States
| | - Thomas P. Russell
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Paul N, Huang J, Liu C, Lin T, Ouyang C, Liu Z, Chen C, Chen Z, Weng Z, Schwartzkopf M, Roth SV, Müller-Buschbaum P, Paul A. Real-time observation of nucleation and growth of Au on CdSe quantum dot templates. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18777. [PMID: 34548512 PMCID: PMC8455570 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97485-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Semiconductor quantum dot (QD) arrays can be useful for optical devices such as lasers, solar cells and light-emitting diodes. As the size distribution influences the band-gap, it is worthwhile to investigate QDs prepared using different solvents because each of them could influence the overall morphology differently, depending on the ligand network around individual QDs. Here, we follow the nucleation and growth of gold (Au) on CdSe QD arrays to investigate the influence of surface ligands and thereby realized interparticle distance between QDs on Au growth behaviour. We particularly emphasize on the monolayer stage as the Au decoration on individual QDs is expected at this stage. Therefore, we sputter-deposit Au on each QD array to investigate the morphological evolution in real-time using time-resolved grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). The growth kinetics - independent of the template - signifies that the observed template-mediated nucleation is limited only to the very first few monolayers. Delicate changes in the Au growth morphology are seen in the immediate steps following the initial replicated decoration of the QD arrays. This is followed by a subsequent clustering and finally a complete Au coverage of the QD arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelima Paul
- Technische Universität München, Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Lichtenbergstr. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Junyu Huang
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Taidong Lin
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Chenghao Ouyang
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaoyu Liu
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunfeng Chen
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongyi Chen
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiyin Weng
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Stephan V Roth
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56-58, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Müller-Buschbaum
- Technische Universität München, Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Lichtenbergstr. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany.,Physik-Department, Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Amitesh Paul
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China.
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