Electrochromic smart window supercapacitor based on a hyperbranched electroactive polyamide for sustainable buildings

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Sustainable Architecture
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Electrochromic smart windows (ESWs) reduce building energy use by controlling solar radiation.
• ESWs consume energy during color changes, presenting an opportunity for energy storage integration.
• Next-generation smart windows aim to combine solar modulation with energy recovery for enhanced sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel smart window with dual-band solar modulation and energy storage capabilities.
• To integrate energy recovery mechanisms into electrochromic smart window technology.
• To create a sustainable architectural solution that enhances energy efficiency and performance.

Main Methods:

• A hyperbranched electroactive polyamide with dual-band solar modulation was synthesized.
• A smart window supercapacitor (SWSC) was fabricated using the polyamide and a zinc frame counter electrode.
• Energy simulations were conducted to evaluate the SWSC's impact on building energy savings.

Main Results:

• The developed SWSC exhibited excellent electrochromic properties (ΔT > 59.51%) and optical bistability.
• The SWSC demonstrated robust energy storage with a 2.4 V voltage range and 85.76 mF/cm² specific capacitance.
• Simulations predicted an average annual energy saving of 19.00% (339.05 MJ/m²) for buildings using the SWSC.

Conclusions:

• The novel SWSC effectively combines solar modulation with energy storage, offering significant energy savings for buildings.
• Over 73.00% of the energy used for color transition can be recovered, powering small appliances.
• This technology advances sustainable architecture by improving energy efficiency and enabling energy harvesting.