Robust Infrared-Shielding Coating Films Prepared Using Perhydropolysilazane and Hydrophobized Indium Tin Oxide Nanoparticles with Tuned Surface Plasmon Resonance

Robust infrared (IR)-shielding coating films were prepared by dispersing indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles (NPs) in a silica matrix. Hydrophobized ITO NPs were synthesized via a liquid phase process. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption of the ITO NPs could be tuned by varying the concentration of Sn doping from 3 to 30 mol %. The shortest SPR wavelength and strongest SPR absorption were obtained for the ITO NPs doped with 10% Sn because they possessed the highest electron carrier density. Coating films composed of a continuous silica matrix homogeneously dispersed with ITO NPs were obtained using perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) as a precursor. PHPS was completely converted to silica by exposure to the vapor from aqueous ammonia at 50 degrees C. The prepared coating films can efficiently shield IR radiation even though they are more than 80% transparent in the visible range. The coating film with the greatest IR-shielding ability completely blocked IR light at wavelengths longer than 1400 nm. The pencil hardness of this coating film was 9H at a load of 750 g, which is sufficiently robust for applications such as automotive glass.