Smart Window for Efficient Light and Heat Control

A notable area of inefficiency in building design lies in windows, where energy leakage remains notably high. Scientists have been working on developing a type of window that can help regulate the amount of heat that enters or leaves a building, called smart windows. For this purpose, research has advanced toward smart window technologies centered around electrochromic, photochromic, and thermochromic materials. These materials enable users to adjust the window's transparency through voltage application, changes in light intensity, and temperature variations. The thermochromic smart window stands out among these technologies due to its affordability, passive control features, and effective temperature management. However, many of these studies have focused on adjusting the amount of visible light that comes in during the day, and don't consider privacy at night when temperatures drop.

Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center researchers have developed a new kind of smart window that allows people to control how much light comes in and out, using a special material that can change from transparent to opaque when it reaches a certain temperature. It uses a special coating made of very thin layers of metal and oxide, as well as a temperature-sensitive layer, to make this possible. The window can automatically darken in hot weather, or it can be darkened manually with a small amount of electricity. The coating on the window also helps to reduce energy use for heating and cooling by blocking some of the heat that comes in from the sun. Overall, this new smart window has many useful features that can make buildings more energy-efficient and comfortable.

Mitmit, C., Mocan, M., Camic, B. T., Cingil, H. E., & Tan, E. M. (2023). Broadband light and heat management with a self-regulating and user-controlled thermochromic smart window. Cell Reports Physical Science, 4(1).

Ref: Broadband light and heat management with a self-regulating and user-controlled thermochromic smart window

SUNUM Scientific Committee:
Aysun Altan
Feray Bakan Mısırlıoğlu
Nokta Çelik

Authors:
Ceren Mitmit
Merve Mocan
B. Tugba Camic
Hande E. Cingil
Eric M.M. Tan