Nanostructures help build smart windows
A revolutionary new type of smart window could cut window cleaning costs for tall buildings while reducing heating bills and boosting worker productivity, the results of a recent research project have shown.
The two-and-a-half-year ‘Biologically Inspired Nanostructures for Smart Windows with Antireflection and Self-Cleaning Properties’ research project represents the first time that a nanostructure has been combined with a thermochromic coating.
“The bio-inspired nanostructure amplifies the thermochromics properties of the coating, and the net result is a self-cleaning, highly performing smart window,” explains project leader Dr Ioannis Papakonstantinou of University College London (UCL), which developed the prototype samples with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The UCL team calculates that the windows could result in a reduction in heating bills of up to 40%, with the precise amount in any particular case depending on the exact latitude of the building where they are incorporated. Windows made of the groundbreaking glass could be especially well-suited to use in high-rise office buildings.
Papakonstantinou explains: “It’s currently estimated that, because of the obvious difficulties involved, the cost of cleaning a skyscraper’s windows in its first five years is the same as the original cost of installing them. Our glass could drastically cut this expenditure, quite apart from the appeal of lower energy bills and improved occupant productivity thanks to less glare. As the trend in architecture continues towards the inclusion of more glass, it’s vital that windows are as low-maintenance as possible.”
Discussions are now underway with UK glass manufacturers with a view to driving this new window concept towards commercialisation. If the team is successful in securing industrial interest, the windows could reach the market within three or five years.
Papakonstantinou says: “We also hope to develop a ‘smart’ film that incorporates our nanostructures and can easily be added to conventional domestic, office, factory and other windows on a DIY basis to deliver the triple benefit of lower energy use, less light reflection and self-cleaning, without significantly affecting aesthetics.”
Professor Philip Nelson, chief executive of EPSRC, adds: “This project is an example of how investing in excellent research drives innovation to produce tangible benefits. In this case the new technique could deliver both energy savings and cost reductions.”
The research project ended in September 2015 and received around £100,000 (~€131,774) from the EPSRC.
A five-year European Research Council starting grant (IntelGlazing) has been awarded to fabricate smart windows on a large scale and test them under realistic, outdoor environmental conditions.
