ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces vanadium dioxide (VO2)-based nanocomposite (NC) coatings for application in smart windows using their optical performance simulation, preparation and relatively properties, and multifunctional compounding with other materials. Li et al. constructed an optical model for this type of VO2 films/coatings based on effective-medium theory (EMT). When the particle sizes are very small, the results obtained from EMT and the four-flux method (FFM) is similar, but the differences become clear for particles of radii larger than 20 nm. The FFM detects light scattering effects on decreasing the transmittance and increasing the reflectance at short wavelengths. The FFM considers diffuse and collimated radiation fluxes going through the coatings and obtains direct and diffuse transmittance from the fluxes. According to the results by theoretical simulation, VO2-based NC coatings would have better optical performance than pure VO2 films.
