According to a recent study published in the Journal of Photon Energy, scientists at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel have developed a new method that combines liquid crystals and nanoporous particles to create an intelligent window technology that can simultaneously control visible light and infrared radiation.
Smart windows are becoming a hot topic in energy-saving and sustainable building design. These windows can dynamically adjust their properties to control light and heat, improving comfort while reducing energy consumption. Although traditional smart window technology has been effective in managing heat or light, there are still limitations in controlling both visible light and infrared radiation simultaneously. A new study has introduced an innovative solution that is expected to overcome these challenges and bring about more efficient and functional intelligent window systems.
This time, the research team added a small amount of nanoporous particles to a special nematic liquid crystal material. These particles seem to inject new vitality into liquid crystal materials, enabling them to quickly change transparency and become intelligent films that can adjust transparency as needed.
To further enhance performance, the research team has also introduced a special vanadium dioxide (VO2) metamaterial surface in the smart window system. This surface is patterned using ultra short pulse lasers on VO2 thin films, allowing the system to automatically adjust its transparency in response to changes in voltage or temperature. In this way, it can effectively control the transfer of indoor light and heat.
The patterned VO2 layer has two important uses: one is to adjust the liquid crystal arrangement to improve its function, and the other is to enhance the window's ability to block infrared radiation. Adding nanoporous particles can also help improve the response speed of the system while reducing the required amount of material. The intelligent window system made from this provides a high-speed, low-energy solution for managing heat and indoor visibility, marking an important advancement in the next generation of intelligent window technology.
