Tungsten-Doped VO(2)/Starch Derivative Hybrid Nanothermochromic Hydrogel for Smart Window

Highly efficient energy-saving windows with high solar modulation properties (ΔT(sol)) are the everlasting pursuit of research for industrial applications in the smart window field. Hybridization is an effective means of improving both ΔT(sol) and luminous transmittance (T(lum)). In this paper, hybrid thermochromic films were synthesized using tungsten-doped VO(2) nanoparticles (NPs) and starch derivatives. Thermoresponsive 2-hydroxy-3-butoxypropyl starch (HBPS) was prepared with a low critical solution temperature (LCST) varying from 32 to 21 °C by the substitution of reactive groups. The hybrid film was obtained by dispersing W-doped VO(2) NPs in HBPS hydrogels, which exhibiting remarkable solar modulation property (ΔT(sol) = 34.3%) with a high average luminous transmittance (T(lum, average) = 53.9%).