Fabrication of VO2 nanorods/PVP composite fiber mats and their unique optical diffuse reflectance properties

Thermochromic (VO2) single phase nanorods were prepared by one-step hydrothermal process and the influence of the annealing process on their crystal structure and properties were studied. The results show that VO2 nanorods exhibit an increased lattice parameter, accompanied by improved optical properties after annealing. Functional fiber mats were fabricated by electrospinning with a suspension of VO2 nanorods dispersed in polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and their structure and optical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Results show that the fiber mats demonstrate a unique and tunable diffuse reflectance, the extent of which can be varied by changing the amount of VO2.