Advances in Engineering Advances in Engineering features breaking research judged by Advances in Engineering advisory team to be of key importance in the Engineering field. Papers are selected from over 10,000 published each week from most peer reviewed journals.
Significance Statement
Collaborative Research team from University of Texas at Austin and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed a new architected nanocomposite for electrochromic materials that allows for a cool mode to block near-infrared light while allowing the visible light to shine through. The developed material will be ideal for applications such as a smart electrochromic window for buildings which will reduce energy costs during summer.
Journal Reference
Nano Lett. 2015 Aug 12;15(8):5574-9.
Kim J1, Ong GK1, Wang Y1, LeBlanc G1, Williams TE2, Mattox TM2, Helms BA2, Milliron DJ1.
1†McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States.
2∥The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
Abstract
Two active electrochromic materials, vacancy-doped tungsten oxide (WO3-x) nanocrystals and amorphous niobium oxide (NbOx) glass are arranged into a mesostructured architecture. In a strategy applicable across electrochemical applications, the critical dimensions and interfacial connections in the nanocomposite are designed to optimize pathways for electrochemical charging and discharging. The result is an unprecedented optical range for modulation of visible and near-infrared solar radiation with rapid switching kinetics that indicate the WO3-x nanocrystal framework effectively pumps charge out of the normally sluggish NbOx glass. The material is durable for at least 2000 electrochemical cycles.
