Thermochromic Hydrogels with Adjustable Transition Behavior for Smart Windows

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19272
• Publication Date: 2024-04-09T19:12:07Z
• Authors: Fuping Chen; Xuewei Wu; Guoqiang Lu; Jun Nie; Xiaoqun Zhu
• Keywords: Glazing; Thermochromism

With the fast economic development and accelerating urbanization, more skyscrapers made entirely of concrete glass are being constructed. To keep a comfortable indoor environment, massive energy for air conditioning or heating appliances is consumed. A huge amount heat (>30%) gained released through windows. Using smart windows with capability to modulate light an effective way reduce building consumption. Thermochromic hydrogel one potential window materials due its excellent thermal response, high radiation-blocking efficiency, cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, good uniformity. In this work, polyhydroxypropyl acrylate (PHPA) hydrogels controllable lower critical solution temperature (LCST) were prepared by photopolymerization. The transition rate under "static transition" conditions investigated. Unlike "static" in which was not affected initial final heating/cooling ramp, varied change dynamic conditions. "dynamic" PHPA gradually increased increase rate. It result movement molecular chains lagging behind when too fast. results solar irradiation experiment filling into double glazing showed that about 15 °C than ordinary windows, indicating it can significantly consumption conditioning. addition, wide range adjustable temperatures optical response make potentially applicable