Radiation Characterization of Smart Aerogels Based on Hollow VO2 Particles

The smart aerogel control technology based on thermochromic materials can dynamically adjust the emittance with temperature changes, which plays a significant role in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. This paper presents the design of the smart aerogel based on hollow VO₂ particles with excellent emittance modulation. The radiation characteristics of a single particle were calculated using the multi-sphere superposition T-matrix method, and the radiation characteristics of the aerogel were determined using the Monte Carlo method. The results indicate that when the radius of the hollow VO₂ particles is 1 μm and the shell thickness is 40 nm, the hollow particles display excellent thermal regulation. When the thickness of the VO₂ particle smart aerogel is 50 μm, with a volume fraction of 2.5%, the emittance of the adaptable aerogel can reach 51.295%, which provides a theoretical foundation for the further advancement of infrared smart aerogels to enhance their energy-saving performance.