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
- Smart Design Solutions In Home Décor For A Dynamic Lifestyleon March 28, 2024 at 3:08 am
Use smart design solutions in your home to improve aesthetics, enhance functionality, and elevate your lifestyle.
- Exquisite smart home near Norwich for sale at £1.25mon March 27, 2024 at 10:06 pm
A smart home in Bracon Ash, near Norwich, has come on the market for offers in excess of £1.25m. The home is set over two storeys, with selling agent Pymm & Co describing the open-plan living spaces ...
- Kirby Smart: Trevor Etienne ‘embarrassed’ by DUI arrest, will use it as ‘teaching moment’on March 27, 2024 at 9:14 am
Before his team hit the practice field Tuesday, head coach Kirby Smart addressed Trevor Etienne's arrest for DUI and reckless driving.
- Smart speaks on Etienne DUI arreston March 27, 2024 at 5:16 am
Jail records showed Etienne was charged with DUI, failure to maintain lane and improper driving on the road, reckless driving and affixing materials that reduce the visibility of windows or ...
- Kirby Smart: Georgia RB Trevor Etienne Could Face Suspension After DUI Arreston March 26, 2024 at 8:37 pm
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday that running back Trevor Etienne is facing disciplinary action from the university and the athletic ...
- Prevent Smart Devices From 'Ghosting' You in Your New Homeon March 25, 2024 at 7:30 am
The Housing (Scotland) Bill will bring in new legislation aimed at “preventing homelessness and strengthening tenants’ rights”. But I predict it will have the complete opposite effect.
- 7 Mac and Windows tricks only the pros knowon March 20, 2024 at 5:16 pm
Kim Komando shares expert tech tips to maximize productivity. Learn screen recording hacks and file organization tricks to streamline your digital workflow.
- See How Easily Aqara Smart Roller Shades Can Upgrade Your Homeon March 20, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Ever thought about making your windows smart? It’s way easier than you might think with the Aqara Smart Roller Shade Driver. We’ve got a video to show you just how simple it is. Smart blinds have been ...
- The best smart thermostat 2024: save money with smart energy techon March 19, 2024 at 6:53 am
Smart thermostats pay for themselves pretty ... override it to boost individual zones and detect when windows are open. It'll even learn how long your house retains heat and switch the boiler ...
- Smart Engines claims new facial recognition system uses no biometric informationon March 18, 2024 at 2:19 pm
According to Smart Engines, the AI-powered process involves three steps: image acquisition, document recognition, and face matching.
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
- The most common window frame materials: How to choose and why it matterson March 22, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This commission does not influence our editors’ opinions or evaluations. Window frame material affects your home’s energy efficiency and aesthetic more than many people realize. Vinyl window ...
- Tunable VO2 cavity enables multispectral manipulation from visible to microwave frequencieson March 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Optical materials capable of dynamically manipulating electromagnetic waves are an emerging field in memories, optical modulators, and thermal management. Recently, their multispectral design ...
- Applied Materials Raises Dividend by 25%on March 10, 2024 at 5:01 pm
David Paul Morris / Bloomberg / Getty Images Applied Materials Inc. announced Monday it was raising its quarterly dividend 25%, to 40 cents from 32 cents a share. Applied Materials finance chief ...
- Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talkon March 7, 2024 at 9:37 am
The latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET. 0823 ET – Brenntag’s 2023 results and 2024 guidance are ...
- 10 Top Materials Stocks Of March 2024on March 5, 2024 at 3:44 am
Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Materials like metal, concrete and chemicals are the foundation of the global economy—every sector requires basic materials ...
- Where Will Applied Materials Stock Be in 5 Years?on March 1, 2024 at 11:45 pm
Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) is one of the most important companies you may have never heard of before. The semiconductor equipment maker -- don't worry, we'll explain what that is -- has ...
- Designing your Dream Home: Expert Tips for Embracing Aesthetics in Luxury Home Interiorson February 29, 2024 at 4:49 pm
“Integrate interactive surfaces like smart glass or electrochromic materials that respond to touch or gesture controls, creating a sensory-rich experience,” opines Aggarwal. Repurpos ...
- Tunable VO₂ cavity enables multispectral manipulation from visible to microwave frequencieson February 26, 2024 at 4:00 pm
the ultrafast phase transition of VO 2 enables faster response time of 0.9 s compared to electrochromic materials-based systems. More information: Hang Wei et al, Tunable VO2 cavity enables ...