Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:50
A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro
Published on: August 27, 2015
8.3K
Review on Mechanoresponsive Smart Windows: Structures and Driving Modes
Bo Chen1, Qi Feng2, Weiwei Liu1
1China Construction Advanced Technology Research Institute, China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430075, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 21, 2023
Summary
Mechanoresponsive smart windows offer a stable, low-cost alternative to conventional types. This review details their structures, properties, and novel driving modes for energy-efficient applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Energy Science
Background:
- Growing awareness of global energy crisis and extreme weather due to global warming.
- Smart windows are crucial for energy efficiency and climate change mitigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent developments in mechanoresponsive smart windows.
- To focus on structures, properties, and driving modes for practical applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of mechanoresponsive smart windows.
- Analysis of structures, properties, advantages, and disadvantages.
- Summary of six unconventional driving modes (pneumatic, optical, thermal, electric, magnetic, humidity).
Main Results:
- Mechanoresponsive smart windows offer simple construction, low cost, and excellent stability compared to conventional types.
- Six distinct modes for generating mechanical strain were identified and analyzed.
- Key properties and structural designs were highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Mechanoresponsive smart windows show significant promise for future development.
- This review provides a reference for designing novel smart windows and accelerating their application.
- Further research into unconventional driving modes can enhance performance and applicability.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
01:26Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
01:12Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
01:19Electro-mechanical Systems
Electromechanical systems are intricate configurations that effectively combine electrical and mechanical elements to achieve a desired outcome. Central to many of these systems is the DC motor, a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, enabling various applications ranging from simple fans to complex robotic mechanisms.
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...