Experimental data of inorganic gel based smart window using silica sol-gel process

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrochromic Devices

Background:

• Smart windows offer dynamic control over light and heat transmission.
• Polymer-dispered liquid crystal (PDLC) devices are common but require high operating voltages.
• Developing low-voltage alternatives is crucial for energy-efficient smart building applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present experimental data for a novel inorganic gel-based smart window.
• To investigate the performance of gel-dispersed liquid-crystal (GDLC) devices fabricated via a silica sol-gel process.
• To compare the operating characteristics of GDLC with traditional PDLC smart windows.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of inorganic gel-based smart windows using a silica sol-gel process.
• Measurement of parallel beam transmittances as a function of applied voltage for varying nitric acid and liquid crystal (LC) concentrations.
• Spectroscopic transmittance analysis of the Si-Ti based GDLC device at different driving voltages.

Main Results:

• GDLC devices demonstrated significantly lower operating voltages (10-15 V) compared to PDLC.
• The formation of LC droplets within the gel matrix during the sol-gel process was illustrated, with methyl organic groups surrounding the LC droplets.
• Successful demonstration of a GDLC-based smart window operating effectively at low voltages.

Conclusions:

• The developed inorganic gel-based smart window (GDLC) offers a promising low-voltage alternative to PDLC.
• GDLC windows exhibit clear color even in the off-state, an advantage over PDLC.
• The silica sol-gel process is suitable for fabricating efficient and low-power consuming smart window devices.