Vanadium dioxide thin films deposited on ZnO buffer layer for smart thermochromic glazing of windows

Vanadium oxide thin films have been deposited on glass and ZnO-coated glass substrates by reactive RF-magnetron sputtering deposition at different substrate temperature. The introduction of ZnO buffer layer could increase the transmittance. The buffer layer ZnO could lead to the increase of the crystallinity quality of VO2 films and substrate temperature could be decreased to 100 degrees C for the obtaining of polycrystalline VO2 structure. The structure of VO2/ZnO/glass is considered to be potentially applicable to "smart windows" of high total energy efficiency in architectures or automobiles.