Cooling down the house: A new smart glass could block both heat and light - Digital Trends
Smart glass has been around a while, but it’s very expensive, hence why it’s only been used in super-expensive cars, like the Ferrari 575M Superamerica. While most smart glass blocks ultraviolet light (the visible kind that leads to sunburns), it still lets in heat-producing near-infrared rays. The electrochromic materials can block 90 percent of near-infrared rays and 80 percent of the sun’s visible light. It can transition from “dark mode,” blocking both types of light (the equivalent of closing your blinds), to “cool mode,” blocking only near-infrared heat, in two minutes. The team has a proof-of-concept of a “warm” mode that lets in heat but blocks light, so you could block the sun’s glare but keep the warmth on winter days. Related: Ingenious SunPort plug lets you use solar energy even if you don’t have solar panels. They apply one layer by depositing the solution and spinning it around at high speed to dry it. they then heat it up to 400 degrees Celsius, then spin the other layer on and heat it again. “We believe our new architected nanocomposite could be seen as a model material, establishing the ideal design for a dual-band electrochromic material,” Milliron said in a. Source: www.digitaltrends.com
