Better thermochromic glazing of windows with anti-reflection coating

Anti-reflection coating on a thermochromic VO2 film has been studied by means of the RF sputtering and is proposed as a possible solution for the enhancement of luminous transmittance of thermochromic film. SiO2 anti-reflection coating raised the luminous transmittance of thermochromic film significantly at both low and high temperature. In addition, it was found that thermochromism was maintained in the AR coated thermochromic film. More importantly, the thermochromism of VO2 film showed greater distinctiveness after application of the antireflection coating, while the transition temperature of the thermochromism, 70 degrees C, was not affected by the anti-reflection coating. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.