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Xu G, Lu Y, Zhou X, Moloto N, Liu J, Kure-Chu SZ, Hihara T, Zhang W, Sun Z. Thermochromic hydrogel-based energy efficient smart windows: fabrication, mechanisms, and advancements. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024; 11:4867-4884. [PMID: 39324863 DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00903g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Thermochromic smart windows are regarded as highly cost-effective and easily implementable strategies with zero energy input among the smart window technologies. They possess the capability to spontaneously adjust between transparent and opaque states according to the ambient temperatures, which is essential for energy-efficient buildings. Recently, thermochromic smart windows based on hydrogels with various chromic mechanisms have emerged to meet the increasing demand for energy-saving smart windows. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in hydrogel-based thermochromic smart windows, focusing on fabrication strategies, chromic mechanisms, and improvements in responsiveness, stability and energy-saving performance. Key developments include dual-responsiveness, tunable critical transition temperatures, freezing resistance, and integrations with radiative cooling/power generation technologies. Finally, we also offer a perspective on the future development of thermochromic smart windows utilizing hydrogels. We hope that this review will enhance the understanding of the chromic mechanism of thermochromic hydrogels, and bring new insights and inspirations on the further design and development of thermochromic hydrogels and derived smart windows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Yucan Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Xinguantong Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Nosipho Moloto
- Molecular Science Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits2050, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Jiacheng Liu
- Department of Materials Function and Design, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Song-Zhu Kure-Chu
- Department of Materials Function and Design, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Takehiko Hihara
- Department of Materials Function and Design, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Wei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - ZhengMing Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
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Shao H, Niu J, Zhang Y, Wang H, Lu C, Ma Y, Chen H, Li S, Qian H. Mass-Producible Transparent Flexible Passive-Cooling Film. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 39387687 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c14473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Passive cooling is regarded as the desired method for interior temperature regulation due to its advantage of energy consumption reduction. An ideal passive-cooling window is expected to exhibit a high emissivity in the mid-infrared (MIR, 8-13 μm) spectral range for cooling and a low transmittance in the near-infrared (NIR, 780-2100 nm) spectral range for reducing heat flow, while presenting a high transmittance in the visible (VIS, 400-780 nm) spectral range for daylighting. However, material structures that meet these requirements often come with high demands for precision in manufacturing and elevated processing costs, which have limited their potential for large-scale mass production. Here, we propose a mass-producible transparent flexible passive-cooling film that is relatively easy to process and low-cost and meets all of the requirements mentioned above. The film is made of poly(methyl methacrylate) mixed with Cs0.33WO3 nanoparticles, and it shows a high absorptance (80%) in NIR for blocking solar radiation penetration and a high emissivity (93%) in MIR for radiative cooling as well as a reasonable transmittance (40%) in VIS for visibility. Under solar intensity of ∼900 W/m2, a maximum temperature reduction of 8.4 and 7.8 °C has been achieved for a window coated by the film compared to the uncoated window in the condition of the absorbing chamber and car, respectively. Such a mass-producible transparent flexible passive-cooling film holds promising applications in large windows, such as those used in automobiles and buildings, where there is a high demand for both daylighting and cooling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Shao
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Innovation Center, ZJU-UIUC Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, People's Republic of China
| | - Junru Niu
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Innovation Center, ZJU-UIUC Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyun Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Innovation Center, ZJU-UIUC Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiteng Wang
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Innovation Center, ZJU-UIUC Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengtao Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Intelligent Optics and Photonics Research Center, Jiaxing Research Institute, International Research Center for Advanced Photonics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaoguang Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Intelligent Optics and Photonics Research Center, Jiaxing Research Institute, International Research Center for Advanced Photonics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongsheng Chen
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Innovation Center, ZJU-UIUC Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, People's Republic of China
| | - Shilong Li
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Innovation Center, ZJU-UIUC Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoliang Qian
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Innovation Center, ZJU-UIUC Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, People's Republic of China
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Chen D, Chen Y, Zhu Z, Luo F, Wu F, Zhou Q, Guo C. Smart Window with Reversible and Instantaneous Photoluminescence based on Microsphere Structure. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:52958-52965. [PMID: 39303103 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c12254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
A smart window that dynamically regulates light transmittance is crucial for modern life end-users and promising for on-demand optical devices. The advent of three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystal microspheres has enriched the functions of a smart window. However, the smart window formed by polymer microspheres encounters poor mechanical strength and microstructural defects. Herein, to solve this limitation, we report the microsphere-based smart window composed of tightly packed cross-linked polymer microspheres (as a precursor) containing organic photochromic dyes, followed by compression under a high elastic state. When excited under an ultraviolet supply, our smart window showed a rapid and reversible fluorescent photoluminescence without fatigue (50 cycles). Moreover, the bulk devices with a microsphere cross-linked network structure enable excellent mechanical strength (hardness reached 0.158 GPa) and visible-light transparency. Interestingly, a QR code can be recognized under visible light exposure but not under ultraviolet light exposure because of photoluminescence of the smart window. Our method generally provided a paradigm for various amorphous polymers, which can be regarded as a simple and effective approach to build a versatile strategy to introduce an ideal marketplace with economic and community benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Chen
- College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Novel NanoOptoelec-tronic Information Materials and Devices, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China
- Nanhu Laser Laboratory, National University of Defense Technology, Changshav 410073, Hunan, China
| | - Yuang Chen
- College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Novel NanoOptoelec-tronic Information Materials and Devices, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China
| | - Zhihong Zhu
- College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Novel NanoOptoelec-tronic Information Materials and Devices, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China
- Nanhu Laser Laboratory, National University of Defense Technology, Changshav 410073, Hunan, China
| | - Fang Luo
- College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Novel NanoOptoelec-tronic Information Materials and Devices, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China
- Nanhu Laser Laboratory, National University of Defense Technology, Changshav 410073, Hunan, China
| | - Fan Wu
- College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Novel NanoOptoelec-tronic Information Materials and Devices, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China
- Nanhu Laser Laboratory, National University of Defense Technology, Changshav 410073, Hunan, China
| | - Qingwei Zhou
- College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Novel NanoOptoelec-tronic Information Materials and Devices, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China
- Nanhu Laser Laboratory, National University of Defense Technology, Changshav 410073, Hunan, China
| | - Chucai Guo
- College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Novel NanoOptoelec-tronic Information Materials and Devices, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China
- Nanhu Laser Laboratory, National University of Defense Technology, Changshav 410073, Hunan, China
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Sun M, Sun H, Wei R, Li W, Lai J, Tian Y, Li M. Energy-Efficient Smart Window Based on a Thermochromic Hydrogel with Adjustable Critical Response Temperature and High Solar Modulation Ability. Gels 2024; 10:494. [PMID: 39195023 DOI: 10.3390/gels10080494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Thermochromic smart windows realize an intelligent response to changes in environmental temperature through reversible physical phase transitions. They complete a real-time adjustment of solar transmittance, create a livable indoor temperature for humans, and reduce the energy consumption of buildings. Nevertheless, conventional materials that are used to prepare thermochromic smart windows face challenges, including fixed transition temperatures, limited solar modulation capabilities, and inadequate mechanical properties. In this study, a novel thermochromic hydrogel was synthesized from 2-hydroxy-3-butoxypropyl hydroxyethyl celluloses (HBPEC) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) by using a simple one-step low-temperature polymerization method. The HBPEC/PNIPAM hydrogel demonstrates a wide response temperature (24.1-33.2 °C), high light transmittance (Tlum = 87.5%), excellent solar modulation (ΔTsol = 71.2%), and robust mechanical properties. HBPEC is a functional material that can be used to adjust the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the smart window over a wide range by changing the degree of substitution (DS) of the butoxy group in its structure. In addition, the use of HBPEC effectively improves the light transmittance and mechanical properties of the hydrogels. After 100 heating and cooling cycles, the hydrogel still has excellent stability. Furthermore, indoor simulation experiments show that HBPEC/PNIPAM hydrogel smart windows have better indoor temperature regulation capabilities than traditional windows, making these smart windows potential candidates for energy-saving building materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, China
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, China
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Ruoyu Wei
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Wenqing Li
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Jinlai Lai
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, China
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Miao Li
- School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
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5
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Guo N, Yu L, Shi C, Yan H, Chen M. A Facile and Effective Design for Dynamic Thermal Management Based on Synchronous Solar and Thermal Radiation Regulation. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:1447-1453. [PMID: 38252892 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Passive solar heating and radiative cooling have attracted great interest in global energy consumption reduction due to their unique electricity-free advantage. However, static single radiation cooling or solar heating would lead to overcooling or overheating in cold and hot weather, respectively. To achieve a facile, effective approach for dynamic thermal management, a novel structured polyethylene (PE) film was engineered with a switchable cooling and heating mode obtained through a moisture transfer technique. The 100 μm PE film showed excellent solar modulation from 0.92 (dried state) to 0.32 (wetted state) and thermal modulation from 0.86 (dried state) to 0.05 (wetted state). Outdoor experiments demonstrated effective thermal regulation during both daytime and nighttime. Furthermore, our designed PE film can save 1.3-41.0% of annual energy consumption across the whole country of China. This dual solar and thermal regulation mechanism is very promising for guiding scalable approaches to energy-saving temperature regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Guo
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 430001, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Yu
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 430001, People's Republic of China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Changmin Shi
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence 02912, Rhode Island United States
| | - Hongjie Yan
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 430001, People's Republic of China
| | - Meijie Chen
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 430001, People's Republic of China
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Wang K, Zhang L, Jiang X. Freezing-resistant poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based hydrogel for thermochromic smart window with solar and thermal radiation regulation. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 652:663-672. [PMID: 37482487 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive regulation of solar and thermal radiation by windows in diverse (hot and cold) climates is essential to reduce building energy consumption. However, conventional hydrogel-based thermochromic smart windows lack thermal radiation regulation, and have difficulty to combine high solar regulation with excellent freezing resistance. It is challenging to integrate the above performance into one hydrogel-based thermochromic window. Here, we firstly prepared poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N, N-dimethylacrylamide)/ethylene glycol (PNDE) hydrogels with tunable and excellent freezing resistance (below -100 °C) by adding the anti-freezing agent ethylene glycol, and assembled PNDE hydrogels, polyvinylidene fluoride and polymethyl methacrylate-silver nanowires panels into a freezing-resistant smart window with solar and thermal radiation regulation (STR). PNDE hydrogels had an excellent thermochromic performance with luminous transmittance (Tlum) of 89.3 %, solar regulation performance (ΔTsol) of 80.7 % and tunable phase change temperature (τc, 22-44 °C). The assembled STR window showed high Tlum of 68.2 %, high ΔTsol of 62.6 %, suitable τc of ∼30 °C and freezing resistance to low temperature of -27 °C. Moreover, the different thermal emissivity (0.94 and 0.68) of the two sides of the STR window gave it the ability of radiative cooling in hot climates and warm-keeping in cold climates. Compared to the conventional thermochromic windows, the STR window promotes heat dissipation in hot conditions while reduces heat loss in cold conditions and is applicable to diverse climates, which is a promising energy-saving device for reducing building energy consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Xiancai Jiang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou 362114, China.
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Xie L, Wang X, Zou X, Bai Z, Liang S, Wei C, Zha S, Zheng M, Zhou Y, Yue O, Liu X. Engineering Self-Adaptive Multi-Response Thermochromic Hydrogel for Energy-Saving Smart Windows and Wearable Temperature-Sensing. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304321. [PMID: 37658503 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Buildings account for ≈40% of the total energy consumption. In addition, it is challenging to control the indoor temperature in extreme weather. Therefore, energy-saving smart windows with light regulation have gained increasing attention. However, most emerging base materials for smart windows have disadvantages, including low transparency at low temperatures, ultra-high phase transition temperature, and scarce applications. Herein, a self-adaptive multi-response thermochromic hydrogel (PHC-Gel) with dual temperature and pH response is engineered through "one-pot" integration tactics. The PHC-Gel exhibits excellent mechanical, adhesion, and electrical conductivity properties. Notably, the low critical solubility temperature (LCST) of PHC-Gel can be regulated over a wide temperature range (20-35 °C). The outdoor practical testing reveals that PHC-Gel has excellent light transmittance at low temperatures and radiation cooling performances at high temperatures, indicating that PHC-Gel can be used for developing energy-saving windows. Actually, PHC-Gel-based thermochromic windows show remarkable visible light transparency (Tlum ≈ 95.2%) and solar modulation (△Tsol ≈ 57.2%). Interestingly, PHC-Gel has superior electrical conductivity, suggesting that PHC-Gel can be utilized to fabricate wearable signal-response and temperature sensors. In summary, PHC-Gel has broad application prospects in energy-saving smart windows, smart wearable sensors, temperature monitors, infant temperature detection, and thermal management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Xie
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Xuechuan Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Xiaoliang Zou
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Zhongxue Bai
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Shuang Liang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Chao Wei
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Siyu Zha
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Manhui Zheng
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Ouyang Yue
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Xinhua Liu
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
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Liu J, Zhou J, Meng Y, Zhu L, Xu J, Huang Z, Wang S, Xia Y. Artificial Skin with Patterned Stripes for Color Camouflage and Thermoregulation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:48601-48612. [PMID: 37787638 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c08872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Chameleons are famous for their quick color changing abilities, and it is commonly assumed that they do this for camouflage. However, recent reports revealed that chameleons also change color for body temperature regulation. Inspired by the structure of the panther chameleon's skin, a stripe-patterned poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel film with a laminated structure is fabricated in this work; thus, both camouflage and thermoregulation can be achieved through controlling Vis and NIR light effectively. For the PNIPAM stripe, the upper layer is the native PNIPAM hydrogel and the lower layer is the carbon nanotube-composited PNIPAM hydrogel. Thus, the PNIPAM stripe is capable of reaching 28 °C at a low environmental temperature (12 °C) and a low radiation intensity (20 mW cm-2), while preventing the body temperature from rising by changing to white under a strong radiation intensity (100 mW cm-2). For the PAM stripe, the upper layer combines colloidal photonic crystals and displays a tunable structural color by stretching, and the lower layer is mixed with PNIPAM microgels for thermal regulation. Through the fabrication of multifunctional patterns, the film can achieve both dynamic structural color and thermoregulation by precisely controlling solar radiation absorption, scattering, and reflection. More importantly, in the stripe-patterned system, the shrinkage of the PNIPAM stripes can effectively trigger the elongation of the PAM stripe, which endows the structural color changing process to be self-powered completely. The performances show that the stripe-patterned film may have potential applications in intelligent coatings, especially in areas with large temperature differences during the day such as high plains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Liu
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Yaru Meng
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Liqian Zhu
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Jintao Xu
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Zehua Huang
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Shengjie Wang
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Yongqing Xia
- Department of Biological and Bioenergy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
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