Direct synthesis of thermochromic VO2 through hydrothermal reaction

Thermochromic VO2 was directly synthesized using hydrothermal techniques. The effects of formation conditions on the structure and morphology of the final product were studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Unique hollow sphere morphology was observed for the synthesized VO2 powders. Ex-situ XRD studies after heat treatment confirmed the thermal stability of the VO2 structure. Thermochromic properties, as a consequence of the reversible structural transformation between monoclinic VO2 and tetragonal phases, were observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.