Swift Photochromic Smart Window Based on Plasmonic Yolk-Shell Nanophosphors

Herein, the fabrication of eccentric Ag@Void@Y2SiO5:Pr3+ plasmonic yolk-shell nanophosphors (PYSNPs) with high up-conversion efficiency, and their incorporation on photochromic WO3 layers, is demonstrated to fabricate photochromic smart windows with high coloration contrast and swift color change. The up-conversion efficiency of the Pr3+ ion-doped Y2SiO5 (Y2SiO5:Pr3+) nanoshells is enhanced by about 50% through the incorporation of carefully designed plasmonic Ag cores placed inside their hollow cavities. Introduction of these geometry-optimized plasmonic nanophosphors at the surface of photochromic WO3 films results in about 24-fold and tenfold enhancements of their coloration rate and kinetic constant, respectively. The strategy adopted for designing and fabricating the Ag@Void@Y2SiO5:Pr3+ PYSNPs and their subsequent incorporation in conventional photochromic films offers an exciting approach for fabricating photochromic smart windows with dynamically controlled transmission of solar radiation, which is a promising technology for reducing energy consumption associated with heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning of buildings.

Automated summary

Here, the fabrication of eccentric Ag@Void@Y2SiO5:Pr3+ plasmonic yolk-shell nanophosphors (PYSNPs) with high up-conversion efficiency is demonstrated, and their incorporation on photochromic WO3 layers is shown to fabricate photochromic smart windows with high coloration contrast and swift color change. The up-conversion efficiency of the Pr3+ ion-doped Y2SiO5 (Y2SiO5:Pr3+) nanoshells is enhanced by about 50% through the incorporation of carefully designed plasmonic Ag cores placed inside their hollow cavities. The strategy adopted for designing and fabricating the Ag@Void@Y2SiO5:Pr3+ PYSNPs and their subsequent incorporation in conventional photochromic films offers an exciting approach for fabricating photochromic smart windows with dynamically controlled transmission of solar radiation.