New "smart" glass can provide itself with energy

A group of scientists from Princeton University has developed a new technology for the production of “smart” glass, capable of changing its transparency depending on the brightness of light. The resulting material can be powered by solar energy absorbed by the glass. Scientists described their work on it in the journal Nature Energy.

Smart glasses are designed to reduce heating and cooling costs by changing the amount of energy they pass and absorb. Existing smart glass technologies require electricity and are difficult to install in buildings where this was not foreseen. The glass proposed by Princeton scientists works by absorbing light from the near ultraviolet spectrum.

“Using near ultraviolet light to power these glasses means that solar cells can be transparent, occupying the same area as regular glass, without imposing restrictions on the design and appearance of windows. Usually solar panels are made of silicon and they are black in color because they absorb all visible light and some infrared radiation – so they are not suitable for windows, ”said one of the authors of the work, an engineer at Princeton University Yue-Lin Lu.

“Smart wireless” coatings can be glued from the inside to glass in a house or apartment. Then you can control the amount of sunlight that enters the room using an application on your phone, which will increase energy efficiency, make your stay more comfortable and protect your privacy, ”commented co-author and colleague Lou Nicholas Davy.

Source: indicator.ru