Members of the SWEB (Smart Windows for Zero Energy Buildings) project team, together with colleagues from the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, have published a new scientific article in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds.
The article, “Synthesis and characterization of Re-doped VO₂ thin films”, with Dr. Boris Polyakov, head of the Additive Manufacturing group, as lead author and Prof. Dr. Juris Purāns among the co-authors, explores new possibilities for improving thermochromic materials such as vanadium dioxide (VO₂), used in smart window technologies.
This result represents an important step towards developing smart window coatings that could automatically regulate solar heat entering buildings, contributing to improved energy efficiency.
The article also provides valuable insights into balancing transition temperature and optical performance – an important challenge in developing practical smart window technologies. Higher rhenium content lowers the transition temperature further, but gradually weakens the material’s ability to modulate infrared light.
The publication highlights the SWEB team’s contribution to advanced materials research and supports the project’s mission to develop innovative solutions for future energy-efficient buildings.
Find the article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2026.191703