Study of thermochromic and photocatalytic properties of MoO3 thin films

Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) thin films with thicknesses 300, 400 and 500 nm were deposited on an FTO substrate by thermal evaporation method. The prepared thin films showed both thermochromic and photocatalytic dye degradation properties. The thermochromic property of the prepared thin films was induced by exposing the thin films to argon gas at a temperature varying from 100 degrees C to 300 degrees C (in steps of 50 degrees C). The photocatalytic dye degradation ability of the films were examined by the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye solution under visible light irradiation. MoO3 thin film with 300 nm thickness is seen to have good thermochromic and photocatalytic dye degradation ability and both of these properties are necessary for smart window applications.