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. 2025 Apr 11;30(8):1730.
doi: 10.3390/molecules30081730.

Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films

Hongren Chen  1 , Baohua Yuan  2 , Xiao Wang  3 , Xiaoming Zhang  3 , Qilei Wang  3 , Zuowei Zhang  2 , Yunxiao Ren  1 , Yihai Yang  4 , Zihui Ye  5 , Ruochen Lan  5 , Lanying Zhang  4 , Wei Hu  2 , Yong Jiang  1 , Huai Yang  4
Affiliations

Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films

Hongren Chen et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The enhanced infrared shielding function of antimony tin oxide (ATO)-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film enables its use for smart windows, because it can switch between transparent and scattered states, which can protect people's privacy. When PDLC film is used for a building's doors and windows or external walls, we hope that it can have a higher infrared shielding capability, in order to reduce the indoor temperature affected by solar irradiation, so as to reduce the energy consumption caused by refrigeration equipment. However, the infrared shielding capability of the existing PDLC is far from sufficient. In this work, modified ATO nanoparticles of different sizes were introduced into the PDLC system to improve its infrared shielding capability. It was found that when the ATO particle size is 20 nm and the doping content is 0.6 wt%, the modified PDLC sample provides optimal infrared shielding function while maintaining excellent electro-optical properties.

Keywords: ATO; PDLC; infrared shielding; nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Dispersion stability test (virgin vs. MPTS-functionalized ATO NPs in ethanol); (b) FT-IR spectra confirming MPTS grafting; (c) TEM analysis of ATO NPs of different sizes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) The transmittance curve with voltage; (b) threshold voltage (Vth) and saturation voltage (Vsat); (c) contrast ratio (CR); and (d) rise time (τon) and decay time (τoff) of Samples A0–A4.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) The transmittance curve with voltage; (b) threshold voltage (Vth) and saturation voltage (Vsat); (c) contrast ratio (CR); and (d) rise time (τon) and decay time (τoff) of Samples B0–B4.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) The transmittance curve with voltage; (b) threshold voltage (Vth) and saturation voltage (Vsat); (c) contrast ratio (CR); and (d) rise time (τon) and decay time (τoff) of Samples C0–C4.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Microphotography of the polymer networks of Samples B0–B4.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) PDLC sample sandwiched between two flexible conductive substrates; (b) Vis-NIR transmittance spectra of 1 wt% 20 nm modified ATO nanoparticle ethanol solution; (c) Vis-NIR transmittance spectra of PDLC samples in on state; (d) Vis-NIR transmittance spectra of PDLC samples in off state.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Chemical structure of the materials used in this paper.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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