Dimming devices have important application value in energy-saving buildings, smart skylights, privacy protection and other fields. Traditional smart windows can realize reversible manipulation of optical transmittance under external stimuli such as electricity, PH, temperature, and stress. However, most smart windows currently have the problems of high energy consumption, poor service stability and slow dimming response rate. The development and design of a waterproof smart window with no energy consumption, good service stability and fast dimming rate is still one of the important topics at present.
Recently, the research group of Associate Professor Chen Chao of Hefei University of Technology has developed a dual-mode magnetron waterproof smart window with no energy consumption, high sensitivity (<0.03 seconds) and ultra-stability by giving the traditional smart window excellent liquid repellent and de-icing functions. The device demonstrates versatility such as encryption-decryption, building thermal management, and angular passive dimming (Figure 1) and validates its potential applications for safe driving in cars in extreme weather (Figure 2). The results were published in Advanced Functional Materials (Adv. Funct. Mater.2023, 23083）。
Figure 1 Multi-functional characteristics of magnetron waterproof smart window and potential application of privacy film
Figure 2 The ultra-slippery characteristics of rainwater and its potential application in the safe driving of automobiles Natural nature has always given people a lot of inspiration, such as blinds by controlling the rotation angle of the macro blade unit, can dynamically manipulate the luminous flux in the room, so as to play the functions of privacy protection, lighting switch, direct sunlight angle manipulation, building temperature control and so on. Inspired by this, Associate Professor Chen Chao used femtosecond laser printing technology to control a series of magnetically responsive microvane arrays (Figure 3). By remotely manipulating the magnetic field, both the optical and wetting properties can be reversed.
Figure 3 The biggest significance of this study is that the femtosecond laser can control the manufacturing and optical/wetting characteristics reconstruction characteristics of magnetron dual-mode smart window is that through femtosecond laser printing technology, a dual-mode brake that takes into account both optical and wetting control is efficiently prepared, giving it functions such as anti-rain washout, anti-icing, dimming and temperature control, which greatly improves the service stability of the smart window and has an important enlightenment role for the design and development of long-life, multifunctional materials and devices. --Cellulose Recommended ---- Recommendation Number--
Bibliography:
Chao Chen, Hao Yao, Yan Chen, Long Zhang, Sijia Guo, Sizhu Wu, Shuyi Li, Zhaoxin Lao, Chenchu Zhang" Ultradurable Omni-Liquid-Repellent Smart Window as a High-Performance Wettability/Transparency Manipulator Enabled via Laser-Writing Magnetism-Actuated Microshutters" Adv. Funct. Mater.2023, 23083。 来源：高分子科学前沿