3D printed hydrogel for soft thermo-responsive smart window. (1st June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Lei; Duan, Guihui; Zhang, Ce; Cheng, Ping; Wang, Zhaolong
• Is Part Of: International journal of extreme manufacturing. Volume 4:Number 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-01
• Subjects: 3D printing -- thermal response -- hydrogel -- tunable optical properties -- smart window; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 670
• DOI: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac5ae3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2631-7990

Abstract

Abstract: Smart windows with tunable optical properties that respond to external environments are being developed to reduce energy consumption in buildings. In the present study, we introduce a new type of 3D printed hydrogel with amazing flexibility and stretchability (as large as 1500%), as well as tunable optical performance controlled by surrounding temperatures. The hydrogel on a PDMS substrate shows transparent-opaque transition with high solar modulation (Δ T sol ) up to 79.332% around its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) while maintaining a high luminous transmittance ( T lum ) of 85.847% at 20 °C. In addition, selective transparent-opaque transition above LCST can be achieved by patterned hydrogels which are precisely fabricated via a projection micro-stereolithography based 3D printing technique. Our hydrogel promises great potential applications for the next generation of soft smart windows.