Innovative smart window technology balances heat and visibility control

Smart windows are becoming a key element in promoting energy-efficient buildings and sustainable architecture. These windows can dynamically adjust their properties to control light and heat, improving comfort while reducing energy costs.

Although traditional smart window technologies have proven effective in managing heat or light, they have limitations when it comes to controlling both simultaneously. visible light and infrared radiation (IR). New research introduces a innovative solution which promises to overcome these challenges, creating a more efficient and versatile smart window system.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Photonics for Energyscientists demonstrated a new approach combining liquid crystals (LC) and nanoporous microparticles (NMPs) to create a smart window technology capable of controlling both visible light and infrared radiation. The key innovation is adding a small concentration of NMP to nematic LCs, resulting in a thin device capable of rapidly changing its transparency.

To further improve performance, the team integrated a vanadium dioxide (VO₂) metamaterial surface in the system, created using an ultrashort pulsed laser to model the VO₂ movie. This combination allows the device to control both heat and light by adjusting its transparency in response to voltage or temperature.

The patterned VO₂ The layer serves two important purposes: it helps align the liquid crystals in a way that improves their function, and it improves the window’s ability to block infrared radiation. The addition of NMP helps improve the response speed of the device while reducing the amount of material needed. The resulting smart window system offers a fast, low-energy solution for managing heat and visibility, marking a significant advancement in the development of next-generation smart window technologies.

Corresponding author Ibrahim Abdulhalim, professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, notes: “Overall, the hybrid device represents a significant advancement in smart window technology, offering a complete solution for comfortable and energy-saving indoor environments in energy. »

The authors note that future developments are needed to make this a practically useful smart window, including improved nanopattern design to optimize VO.₂ thermochromic properties.