ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces thermochromic vanadium dioxide (VO2)-based materials for applications in energy-efficient glazing. Inorganic thermochromic materials are conventionally and conveniently introduced via their electrical conductivity, as seen from the compilation of data. Glazing should normally have luminous transmittance of a high value in order to provide sufficient daylighting and indoors–outdoors visual contact. However, superior performance can be reached with VO2 nanoparticles, which can give a luminous transmittance of about 60% together with a thermochromic solar energy modulation larger than 20%. Glazing based on VO2, or any other inorganic thermochromic material, does not yet exist as a commercial product, but the field of thermochromics has advanced greatly during recent years, and it is the contention of the author and many others that practical implementation of thermochromic glazing may be in the offing.
