Influence of doping with alkaline earth metals on the optical properties of thermochromic VO2

Thin films of doped VO2 were deposited, analyzed, and optimized with regard to their solar energy transmittance (Tsol) and visible/luminous light transmittance (Tlum) which are important parameters in the context of smart window applications in buildings. The doping with alkaline earth metals (AEM) like Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba increased both Tsol and Tlum due to a bandgap widening and an associated absorption edge blue-shift. Thereby, the brown-yellowish color impression of pure VO2 thin films, which is one major hindrance limiting the usage of VO2 as thermochromic window coating, was overcome. Transparent thin films with excellent switching behavior were prepared by sputtering. Highly doped V1−xMexO2 (Me = Ca, Sr, Ba) kept its excellent thermochromic switching behavior up to x(Me) = Me/(Me + V) = 10 at. % doping level, while the optical bandgap energy was increased from 1.64 eV for undoped VO2 to 2.38 eV for x(Mg) = 7.7 at. %, 1.85 eV for x(Ca) = 7.4 at. %, 1.84 eV for x(Sr) = 6.4 at. % and 1.70 eV for x(Ba) =...