Published on: Dec 12 2014 7:39PM
BEIJING: Scientists are developing a new kind of “smart window” that can block out heat when the outside temperatures rise.
‘Smart’ windows that block out heat
“Researchers are pursuing smart windows that can
respond to a variety of cues, including electricity, gas, light and
heat,” said lead scientist Xuhong Guo from East China University of
Science and Technology.
Current methods for making these windows use
jelly-like materials called hydrogels that swell in the heat which hurts
performance.
Guo, along with co-authors Kaimin Chen, Yanfeng
Gao and colleagues made a version of the hydrogels but in the form of
microscopic soft beads suspended in a liquid.
They sandwiched the solution between two pieces of glass and tested it using a model house.
When they shined a lamp mimicking solar light on the “smart window”, it turned opaque and kept the house cooler.
The microgel, however, did not swell as much as its predecessor.
“The new microgel is a good candidate for use in future ‘smart windows’,” the team noted.
The breakthrough, reported in American Chemical
Society’s journal Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, could
one day help consumers conserve energy in a better way on hot days and
reduce electricity bills. — IANS
SOURSE:THE TRIBUNE,CHANDIGARH
