Understanding how hydration affects color-changing windows that optimize solar energy transmission can boost their efficiency and durability
Electrochromic materials dynamically alter how they transmit light in response to an applied electrical signal. Engineers are currently working to turn these compounds into ‘smart windows’ for buildings that change from transparent to colored states at the flick of a switch. Such devices can help to prevent heat loss and maximize the amount of natural light passing through windows. Sing Yang Chiam from the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering in Singapore and co-workers have discovered how to improve the manufacturing and performance of smart windows by elucidating the critical roles that water molecules play during coloration1.
Nickel oxide (NiO) is a low-cost, inorganic compound widely used as an anode material inside smart windows because it is a reversible color-changer. Unlike other electrochromic substances, however, researchers have struggled to comprehend how coloration occurs in NiO in the presence of common aqueous electrolytes. Part of the problem is that NiO can form different crystal structures in its bleached and colored states, depending on how much water becomes incorporated into the material.
Chiam and his team set out to unravel this puzzle with a ‘chemical bath deposition’ technique that allowed rapid fabrication of NiO thin films simply by dipping a conductive glass slide into a nickel precursor solution (see image). The researchers annealed the films at increasingly elevated temperatures to gradually drive water out of NiO, checking its structure with X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy along the way. They also investigated how these structures had changed after multiple electrochromic color-change cycles.
The team’s experiments revealed a complex coloration mechanism involving water and NiO particles. Initially, two intertwined reactions hydrated the thin film by turning NiO into nickel hydroxide. This process enhanced the material’s optical response to electrical signals by allowing more of the thin film to contribute to coloration reactions. However, repeated cycling caused ‘over-hydration’ that trapped water molecules inside the thin film structure — a development that degrades electrochromic activity by generating irreversibly colored nickel oxide hydroxide grains.
The researchers found that a simple high-temperature annealing process could mitigate the effects of over-hydration in the NiO thin film. This improved mechanistic knowledge — in combination with their simple and scalable chemical dip coating technique — helped them to achieve one of the best optical modulations reported for NiO films.
Currently, the team is investigating how to extend their work to flexible substrates. “Fabricating electrochromic thin films on rolls of plastic could make retrofitting onto existing windows affordable and easy,” explains Chiam.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Smart windows
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Smart windows” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Smart windows
- Mask-inspired perovskite smart windows enhance weather resistance and energy efficiencyon April 25, 2024 at 6:36 am
Thermochromic perovskite is a new color switch material used in energy-saving smart windows. Despite its potential for energy savings, thermochromic perovskite suffers from poor weather resistance, ...
- This artist couple build an incredible cabin out of recycled windows for under $500on April 24, 2024 at 6:20 am
Micro homes and sustainable building practices are on the rise. People don’t need big homes or lavish settings. The newer generation is more focused on utility, knowing that through smart design, ...
- The spam came from inside the house: How a smart TV can choke a Windows PCon April 23, 2024 at 3:15 pm
The modern "smart" TV asks a lot of us. In exchange for connecting you to a few streaming services you use, a TV will collect data, show ads, and serve as another vector for bad actors. In a few ...
- Meta Smart Glasses just got the AI upgrade I’ve been waiting foron April 23, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Meta keeps making its Ray-Ban Smart Glasses better, with more styles, multimodal AI that can see, and the option to share your view with friends.
- Sonos overhauls iOS controller app to simplify smart speaker streamingon April 23, 2024 at 7:16 am
Sonos is updating its mobile app, providing iPhone users with a simpler design to make streaming services through its smart speakers even easier.
- How potatoes, corn and beans led to breakthrough in smart windows technologyon April 23, 2024 at 7:10 am
Smart windows are an exciting technology, capable of blocking out or letting in more light as needed, potentially reducing energy costs of large buildings by making them more efficient. This ...
- 7 smart home tips to help you save energy and reduce wasteon April 23, 2024 at 4:32 am
As with almost all smart home devices, smart thermostats grant you the ability to remotely control your home, helping you reduce wasted energy by up to 8% according to energy-saving standards firm ...
- Boost your PC’s performance with Windows 11 Pro, now under $30on April 23, 2024 at 3:22 am
Update your PC's performance when you get lifetime access to Windows 11 Pro for just $29.97 through April 30 at 11:59 PM Pacific.
- Is your PC having trouble? Your smart TV might be to blameon April 22, 2024 at 3:15 pm
It turns out your TV can actually mess up your computer — at least if you’re using a Hisense TV and Windows. Priscilla Snow, a sound designer and composer for games, wrote on Cohost that they’d been ...
- Smart Windows Market The Unexplored Realm Revolutionizing Deep Understanding through Observational Researchon April 21, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Report Ocean recently added a research report on “Smart Windows Market”. The report includes an extensive analysis of the market’s characteristics, COVID-19 impact, size and ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Electrochromic materials
[google_news title=”” keyword=”electrochromic materials” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Electrochromic materials
- Vanadium Compounds in Emerging Electronics, Electrics, Cooling: Global Market Analysis and Technology Research Report 2024-2044on April 23, 2024 at 9:13 pm
This commercially-oriented research report is designed to assist added value materials and device companies to maximise ... hollow nanospheres to intercalated cathodes, electrochromic windows and much ...
- How potatoes, corn and beans led to breakthrough in smart windows technologyon April 23, 2024 at 7:10 am
Smart windows are an exciting technology, capable of blocking out or letting in more light as needed, potentially reducing energy costs of large buildings by making them more efficient. This ...
- Smart Windows Market The Unexplored Realm Revolutionizing Deep Understanding through Observational Researchon April 21, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Report Ocean recently added a research report on “Smart Windows Market”. The report includes an extensive analysis of the market’s characteristics, COVID-19 impact, size and ...
- Smart Glass Market Analysis, Key Segments, Share, Size, Growth Status, and Forecast to 2024 to 2032on April 16, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Report Ocean recently published a research report titled “Smart Glass Market” 2024 Forecast to 2032 Analysis by Market Trends.” This study delivers accurate economic projections, worldwide evaluations ...
- BMW iX xDrive50 review, first driveon April 15, 2024 at 1:57 am
Building on the core of an already capable iX the xDrive50 brings performance and touring range to BMW’s flagship electric SUV ...
- The Polestar 4 is a speedy crossover with no rear window for $56Kon April 8, 2024 at 10:31 am
Volvo describes the Polestar 4 as a performance SUV coupe with four doors. The automaker says it designed the crossover for comfort and sporty handling. There are two primary motor configurations, and ...
- Best New Vehicles to See at the 2024 New York International Auto Showon March 28, 2024 at 3:00 am
The Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor now offers the Plus Pack including a 1,610-watt Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker premium audio system, which was specifically designed for the 3. It also offers ...
- Is There a Future for Sustainable Construction?on December 20, 2023 at 11:03 am
Energy-efficient materials are more expensive than conventional materials and systems — things like synthetic roof underlayments that last longer than asphalt; electrochromic glass that filters out UV ...