Mg-Doped VO₂@ZrO₂ Core−Shell Nanoflakes for Thermochromic Smart Windows with Enhanced Performance

The VO₂-based smart windows can dynamically and reversibly adjust the indoor solar irradiation to reduce the energy consumption for building glasses. This paper reports the first successful preparation of Mg-doped VO₂@ZrO₂ core−shell nanocrystals with promoted thermochromic performance as well as tunable appearance and wettability. The achieved combination of T_lum of 52.4% and ∆T_sol of 7.1% is comparable to the best-reported results of VO₂-based core−shell rod structures. The thickness of ZrO₂ shell is tunable between 3 and 14 nm, resulting in a slightly hydrophobic surface and a slight color change toward blue-green and brighter produced films. The preparation method based on hydrothermal and UV-curing methods is facile. This work may inspire future development of VO₂ synthesis, their structure−property, and the application the thermochromic films for energy-saving purposes in buildings or automobiles.