Extended study on electrophoretic deposition process of inorganic octahedral metal clusters: Advanced multifunctional transparent nanocomposite thin films

Abstract

This review paper summarizes our very recent works on the synthesis of multifunctional transparent nanocomposite thin films or coatings based on metal atom clusters by an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process. Eight different octahedral atom clusters with niobium, molybdenum or tantalum as metallic cores were used to prepare highly transparent thin films in the visible. Green, yellow, orange, red and brown colored films were successfully fabricated by coating on a transparent conductive oxide glass substrate. Transparent nanocomposite films with prominent luminescent properties were obtained by using Mo6 clusters whereas ultra-violet (UV) and near infrared (NIR) filters were realized by using Nb6 or Ta6 clusters. The EPD process appears to be a new strategy to fabricate highly transparent, homogeneous and colored nanocomposite thin films and coatings for smart windows and solar technologies in a very short time (<90s).