Transparent and heat-insulation bionic hydrogel-based smart window system for long-term cooling and waste heat collection

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel hydrogel-based smart window system that combines high visible light transmittance, effective UV blocking, thermal insulation, waste heat collection, and temperature sensing, addressing energy efficiency and climate challenges.

Contribution

A new composite hydrogel system enabling simultaneous high visible transmittance, UV isolation, thermal insulation, waste heat collection, and sensing capabilities in smart windows.

Findings

92% visible light transmittance

22°C insulation performance over 168 hours

Effective waste heat collection and temperature sensing

Abstract

With the energy crisis and climate warming, the position of a new generation of smart windows is becoming increasingly important, and materials or systems that can have high blocking of near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet (UV) and high transmittance of visible light (VIS) are needed. Currently, it is difficult for smart heat-insulation materials to achieve high transmittance of VIS, good UV isolation, outstanding cooling and thermal insulation, and excellent waste heat collection. Here, we design a novel composite hydrogel to achieve an average 92% VIS transmittance, efficient UV absorption , 11 Celsius degree of thermal insulation, and sensing properties. Interestingly, we designed a transparent heat insulation system with this composite hydrogel to obtain about 22 Celsius degree of the record-breaking insulation performance for 168 hours, waste heat collection and reutilization, and temperature sensing. Our findings provide new ideas and possibilities for designing transparent and heat-insulation smart window systems.