Mg2+ and W6+ cations were first codoped into the VO2 lattice, resulting in a widened photon band gap and h+/e− charge carrier accumulation. These effects enhanced the thermochromic performance with a high visible transmission (∼80%) and a low phase transition temperature (∼30 °C).

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a well-known thermochromic material with large IR modulating ability, promising for energy-saving smart windows. The main drawbacks of VO2 are its high phase transition temperature (τ(c) = 68°C), low luminous transmission (T(lum)), and weak solar modulating ability (ΔT(sol)). In this paper, the terbium cation (Tb(3+)) doping was first reported to reduce τ(c) and increase T(lum) of VO2 thin films. Compared with pristine VO2, 2 at. % doping level gives both enhanced T(lum) and ΔT(sol) from 45.8% to 54.0% and 7.7% to 8.3%, respectively. The T(lum) increases with continuous Tb(3+) doping and reaches 79.4% at 6 at. % doping level, representing ∼73.4% relative increment compared with pure VO2. This has surpassed the best reported doped VO2 thin films. The enhanced thermochromic properties is meaningful for smart window applications of VO2 materials.

A way of characterizing cracking in a hard coating is described. Microscale double cantilever beams have been made by focused ion beam milling and compressed in situ using a nanoindenter. The method can account for frictional effects and is demonstrated first on single crystals of SiC and GaAs of known toughness, before studying cracking in CrN-based hard coatings. It is found that ultra-fine grained CrAlN/Si 3 N 4 coatings have a toughness approximately twice that of a conventional CrN coating. Although grain-size effects are still unclear, in situ observations directly show crack interactions with particles of Cr and voids in the film. V C 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

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