Preparation of VO2/PVDF composite film and its modulating optical performance

• The composite VO 2 /PVDF film was prepared by casting-coating method. • VO 2 /PVDF film can control solar reflectance and IR transmittance. • The modulating optical performance was analyzed. • Effects of VO 2 on thermal stability were investigated. Thermochromic VO 2 nanoparticles have been dispersed into PVDF film by a scraping-coating technique. The structure and optical-thermal properties of the prepared composite film were investigated by XRD, SEM, UV–Vis–NIR and FTIR spectroscopy. Results showed that the solar reflectance and IR transmittance of the VO 2 /PVDF composite film can be controlled by adjusting the amount of VO 2 . To an extent, these composite films demonstrated a tunable solar diffuse reflectance and IR switching capability through phase transition. On the other hand, the thermal stability of the composite films doped with VO 2 nanoparticles was not prominently changed, but the char residue increased significantly with the increase of the VO 2 quality.