Hybrid Aerosol Assisted Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition: A Facile Route Toward Nano-Composite Thin Films?

A hybrid chemical vapour deposition strategy is presented as a facile route for the production of vanadium dioxide nano-composite thin films. The effect of the inclusion of gold nano-particles and the use of a surfactant molecule; tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB), is discussed. The films are fully characterised and it is shown that micro-structural changes lead to an enhancement of thermochromic properties, whilst gold nano-particles lead to a change in the films optical properties. Optical data is used in building energy simulation studies to elucidate the films potential as an energy saving coating for architectural glazing.