A coating that blocks 90 per cent of the heat from sunlight could be used to develop smart windows
By fine-tuning the chemical composition of nanoparticles, A*STAR researchers have developed a coating that is promising for fabricating smart windows suitable for tropical countries. Such windows block almost all the infrared heat from sun rays, while admitting most of the visible light.
The transparency of glass to visible light makes it the most common way to let light into a building. But because glass is also transparent to near-infrared radiation — windows also let in heat, giving rise to the well-known greenhouse effect. While this heating is welcomed in colder climates, it means that air conditioning has to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature in tropical climes.
Developing smart windows that allow most of the sun’s light in, while blocking near-infrared radiation, would cut energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.
“In tropical Singapore, where air conditioning is the largest component of a building’s energy requirements, even a small reduction in heat intake can translate into significant savings,” notes Hui Huang of the A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing and Technology.
Huang and his co-workers have developed such windows by coating glass with tin oxide nanoparticles doped with small amounts of the element antimony. By varying the nanoparticles’ antimony concentration, they could optimize their ability to absorb near-infrared radiation.
“Our infrared shielding coating, with 10-nanometer antimony-doped tin oxide nanoparticles, blocks more than 90 per cent of near-infrared radiation, while transmitting more than 80 per cent of visible light,” says Huang. “These figures are much better than those of coatings obtained using commercial antimony-doped tin oxide nanopowders. In particular, the infrared shielding performance of our small antimony-doped tin oxide nanocrystals is twice that of larger commercial antimony-doped tin oxide powders.”
The team produced the tiny nanoparticles using a synthesis technique known as the solvothermal method, in which precursors are heated under pressure in a special vessel, called an autoclave. The solvothermal method permits synthesis at relatively low temperatures. It also enables the nanoparticle size to be tightly controlled, which is important when trying to block some wavelengths of light while allowing others to pass through.
The work has already attracted the interest of industry. “A local glass company supporting this project is interested in licensing this smart window technology with infrared shielding,” says Huang. Potentially, the coating techniques could be applied on-site to existing windows, he adds.
Learn more: Admitting visible light, rejecting infrared heat
The Latest on: Smart windows
[google_news title=”” keyword=”smart windows” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Smart windows
- 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE Review: Smart, Affordable, And Boring By Designon April 30, 2024 at 2:01 pm
Picking a new family car is a headache, especially if you want to go hybrid. Here's why our reviewer opted for the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid over the competition.
- Samsung Announces Future Smartwatch And Smart Ring Planson April 30, 2024 at 8:35 am
Samsung has teased its future wearable plans for the Samsung Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch 7 as part of its latest financial reporting.
- In the Seaport, Marvin’s showroom invites you to live like ‘The Jetsons’on April 29, 2024 at 8:46 am
The Minnesota-based company sells windows, doors, and skylights with sensors that can quietly open and close, depending on the temperature, weather, or time of day ...
- The Burrow Is a Modern Tiny House With a Smart Layout Optimized for Family Lifeon April 28, 2024 at 12:15 am
With a minimalist aesthetic and ample storage solutions, this three-bedroom tiny home is classic without being fussy and cozy without being cluttered ...
- Mask-inspired perovskite smart windows enhance weather resistance and energy efficiencyon April 25, 2024 at 6:36 am
Thermochromic perovskite is a new color switch material used in energy-saving smart windows. Despite its potential for energy savings, thermochromic perovskite suffers from poor weather resistance, ...
- The spam came from inside the house: How a smart TV can choke a Windows PCon April 23, 2024 at 3:15 pm
The modern "smart" TV asks a lot of us. In exchange for connecting you to a few streaming services you use, a TV will collect data, show ads, and serve as another vector for bad actors. In a few ...
- Meta Smart Glasses just got the AI upgrade I’ve been waiting foron April 23, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Meta keeps making its Ray-Ban Smart Glasses better, with more styles, multimodal AI that can see, and the option to share your view with friends.
- Is it legal to drive with tinted windows in Pennsylvania? See what state guidelines sayon April 23, 2024 at 9:31 am
Under Pennsylvania regulations, no vehicle can have a windshield with minimum light transmittance — or how much light contacting the window passes through — below 70%, according to the Pennsylvania ...
- Sonos overhauls iOS controller app to simplify smart speaker streamingon April 23, 2024 at 7:16 am
Sonos is updating its mobile app, providing iPhone users with a simpler design to make streaming services through its smart speakers even easier.
- 7 smart home tips to help you save energy and reduce wasteon April 23, 2024 at 4:32 am
As with almost all smart home devices, smart thermostats grant you the ability to remotely control your home, helping you reduce wasted energy by up to 8% according to energy-saving standards firm ...
via Bing News