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RV College of
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Experiential Learning
Presentation

TOPIC THERMOCHROMIC MATERIALS

SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS
BRANCH CHEMICAL
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• Introduction
• Preparation methods
• Mechanism for discoloration
• Applications
• Future scope
• Conclusion
• References
 INTRODUCTION
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● THERMOCHROMIC MATERIAL- Color changes due to

variation in temperature.
Chemistry behind these color changes is due to
variation in electronic states between the
electrons.
● Three types- ORGANIC, INORGANIC, LIQUID
CRYSTAL.
● Inorganic thermochromic materials-metal iodide,
double salt, transition metal compounds, metal
alloys and metal chloride.
● Organic thermochromic materials-Organic
thermochromic materials occupying most
quantities and species contain spiropyrans,
fluoranthene, triarylmethane, ethylene with
substituents and organic complexes
● Liquid crystal- smectic, nematic and cholesteric
type.
● Applications- aerospace, military, anti-
counterfeiting technology, construction and other
fields.
 PREPARATION METHODS
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Solid Phase Method:

This method includes four steps of the
diffusion, reaction, nucleation and growth.
Eg:crystal violet-boric acid complex
compound.
Liquid phase deposition method:
Liquid phase precipitation method is
usually used to prepare oxide, oxide
composite and metal ultrafine powder.
Vapor deposition method:
This includes chemical vapor deposition
(CVD) and physical vapor deposition
(PVD).VO2 thin films were firstly prepared
by CVD method.
 MECHANISM FOR DISCOLORATION
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● Intermolecular electron transfer-

Composed of electron donor,
electron acceptor and solvent
compounds.Electron donor
decides the colour, electron
acceptor decides the colour
Chroma and solvent compounds
decide the discolouration
temperature.

● Structural changes in the

molecules-
Structure of the molecules change
depending on the temperature.
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● Intramolecular proton transfer-

When the temperature rises, the
protons in the molecules are
transferred and the molecular
structure of the material
changes.
● Crystal transition:
Crystal transformation is a
common discoloration mechanism
for inorganic thermochromic
materials. However, many
organic thermochromic materials
also follow this mechanism.
 APPLICATIONS
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SMART WINDOWS:

A thermochromic window is also called a

smart window; ‘‘smart’’ is used because
these windows cleverly control the solar
transmittance when activated by
temperature, i.e., when there is a
temperature increase, the solar passage
reduces to obstruct the unwanted solar
radiation by reflection. In principle, as the
outside temperature is more than the
transition temperature of the smart
window, the allowance of solar radiation is
reduced, and thus less solar energy enters
the building, reducing the in-house
temperature.
 APPLICATIONS
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FUNCTIONAL COATINGS:
Functional coatings include
pigments, dyes, paints, printing
inks, etc. Thermochromic pigment
refers to the micro-encapsulated
reversible thermochromic spherical
materials with an average diameter
of 2–7 nm. Pigments can be
encapsulated by polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP), polystyrene
(PS), soft polyvinyl chloride (S-PVC),
acrylonitrile-styrene resin (AS),
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
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SENSORS:
The best used thermochromic
material for manufacturing these
sensors is Polydiacetylene (PDA)
which is used in the design of
biosensors for the molecule
recognition. This kind of polymer
achieves the signal transmission
through the discoloration caused by
changing the skeleton structure.
 FUTURE SCOPE IN THIS AREA
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Microencapsulated Phase Change Material

(micro-PCM):
Achieves thermal discoloration when
temperature exceeds the target value.

Nanotechnology-based thermochromic
materials:
Nano-sized materials especially transition metal
oxides (TMOs) have great scientific interests due
to their various application in lithium-ion
battery, sensors, transistors. Among these
TMOs, VANADIUM compounds have been widely
used in various applications. These compounds
have good activity, noticeable thermal
resistance, accessibility and high stability in the
catalytic processes and can be synthesized
 CONCLUSION
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Even though the emergence of thermochromic technology and materials date

back to the 1960s, there is a slow advancement in the study of these materials
due to their intricate mechanism and environmental vulnerability.
Building materials perform a significant part in the thermal performance of the
building and hence are essential to help in establishing a thermally comfortable
internal environment.
Packaging, especially food packaging is a potential application of these
materials. People in modern society pay more attention to the food safety, and
thermochromic materials will play an important role in food quality testing and
shelf life indication in future.
The micro encapsulation is an important technology for the application of
thermochromic materials. Thermochromic materials play an important role in
the development of modern society.
The development of thermochromic technology is essential for developing green
 REFERENCES
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[1] C.F. Zhu, A.B. Wu, Studies on the synthesis and thermochromic
properties of crystal violet lactone and its reversible thermochromic
complexes (2005)
[2] C.G. Granqvista, S. Greena, G.A. Niklassona, N.R. Mlyukaa, S.V.
Kraemerb, P. Geor -Thin Solid Films.
[3] H.B. Wang, X.S. Liu, J.C. Huo, J. Chin- recent applications of
thermochromic materials via different methods
[4] H.C. Jiang-Preparation and Properties of Reversible Thermochromic
Veneer.
 REFERENCES
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[5]Y.P. Wu- Preparation and Microencapsulation of Organic Reversible

Thermochromic Materials and Its Microencapsulation Research.

[6] D.S. Choi, S.H. Han, H. Kim, S.H. Kang, Y. Kim, C.M. Yang, T.Y. Kim, D.H. Yoon,
W.S. Yang, J-Nanotechnology- Flexible Thermochromic Window Based on Hybridized
VO2.

[7] N. Traiphol, N. Rungruangviriya, R. Potai, R. Traiphol, J.- Stable

polydiacetylene/ZnO nanocomposites with two-steps reversible and irreversible
thermochromism.

[8]Pacheco Torgal, F, Buratti, C, Kalaiselvam, S, Granqvist, C-G, Ivanov, V (eds.) Nano

and Biotech Based Materials for Energy Building Efficiency.