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Carbon Doped Boron Nitride Nano-Coatings for Durable, Low Emissivity Glass Windows

  • 0Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 77005, USA.
Advanced Materials (deerfield Beach, Fla.) +

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July 7, 2025

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July 7, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A new carbon (C) doped boron nitride (BN) nano-coating offers durable, energy-efficient low-emissivity (low-E) glass windows. Applied at room temperature, this coating provides scratch protection and significant energy savings for buildings.

Area Of Science

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Sustainable Building Technologies

Background

  • Energy-efficient windows with low-emissivity (low-E) coatings are crucial for reducing building energy consumption and enhancing indoor comfort.
  • Current commercial low-E coatings are costly, susceptible to abrasion, and typically applied to the interior, limiting their overall effectiveness.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To introduce a novel, durable, and cost-effective nano-coating material for low-E glass windows.
  • To evaluate the environmental stability, adhesion, and energy-saving potential of the new coating when applied to the exterior side of glass.

Main Methods

  • Development of transparent carbon (C) doped boron nitride (BN) nano-coatings on glass surfaces using pulsed laser deposition at room temperature.
  • Assessment of coating properties including long-wave infrared emissivity (εLWIR), environmental stability (high temperature-humidity, UV, thermal cycling, freezing, saltwater), adhesion, and scratch resistance.
  • Building energy simulation for cold climates to compare the performance of exterior-coated C-BN glass with interior-coated commercial low-E glass.

Main Results

  • The C-BN nano-coatings exhibit a promising long-wave infrared emissivity of approximately 0.42.
  • The coatings demonstrate excellent environmental stability and resilience against various degradation factors, along with superior adhesion and scratch protection.
  • Exterior-side C-BN coated low-E glass achieved 2.9% greater energy savings in building simulations compared to interior-coated commercial low-E glass.

Conclusions

  • Chemically inert and transparent C-BN nano-coatings represent a viable alternative for durable and energy-efficient low-E glass windows.
  • The room-temperature deposition and robust performance make C-BN coatings suitable for exterior window applications, overcoming limitations of current technologies.
  • This innovation holds potential for advancing sustainable building design and reducing global energy consumption.

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