Emerging SiO2@ATO hierarchical submicron hollow microspheres with efficient photo-thermal shielding properties

Silicon dioxide/antimony doped tin oxide (SiO2@ATO) submicron hollow microspheres were prepared by hydrothermal method. The morphology and microstructure of the microspheres were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS and HRTEM. The composite coatings were prepared by adding SiO2@ATO powders to acrylic matrix, and their photothermal shielding properties were investigated. In addition, the electronic structure and optical properties of SiO2@ATO heterojunction were calculated and analyzed using first principle. The results show that the interface binding energy of SiO2@ATO is similar to 2.496 J/m(2), which indicates that the interface can exist stably. The light transmittance of the acrylic matrix coating with 1.0 wt% submicron hollow SiO2@ATO microspheres can reach about 83 %. Moreover, it was found that the hollow double-shell SiO2@ATO/acrylic matrix coating lowered the indoor temperature of the homemade incubator by 11.5 degrees C. In summary, the SiO2@ATO structure shows potential in the application of transparent thermal insulation coatings.