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  11. Smart Curtains For Spontaneous Solar Modulation Via Natural Light-triggered Deformable Shading And Chromogenic Synergy

Smart Curtains for Spontaneous Solar Modulation via Natural Light-Triggered Deformable Shading and Chromogenic Synergy

Si-Zhe Sheng1,2, Zhi-Yu Xian3, Wen-Shuo Zhang4

  • 1Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Major Scientific Facilities for New Materials, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 8, 2025

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View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New smart curtains use light-responsive nanowires and actuators to control indoor temperature. These flexible curtains block sunlight in intense light and allow it in low light, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency.

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Sustainable Building Technologies
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Smart windows offer tunable transparency for thermal management but suffer from overcooling and instability due to solid-state chromogenic material properties.
  • Existing smart window technologies often require costly window replacement and struggle with precise solar modulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop flexible smart curtains using stimulus-responsive chromogenic nanowires and photothermal actuators for improved solar modulation and temperature control.
  • To demonstrate a novel approach for enhancing indoor comfort and energy efficiency in buildings without replacing existing windows.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of stimulus-responsive chromogenic nanowires (thermochromic or photochromic) with photothermal actuators based on differential thermal expansion of bacterial cellulose and polyethylene.
  • Fabrication of macro-deformed smart curtains that exhibit reversible curling and unrolling behavior in response to varying light intensities.
  • Characterization of solar radiation modulation, temperature reduction capabilities, and off-state solar transmittance.

Main Results:

  • The smart curtains achieve temperature reductions exceeding 6.0°C by regulating solar radiation, with 62.3% reduction for thermochromic and 79.1% for photochromic versions.
  • In the off-state (low light), the curtains allow 92.0% solar radiation transmission, facilitating passive heating.
  • The smart curtains demonstrate a light-intensity-dependent deformation (curling/unrolling) for dynamic solar modulation.

Conclusions:

  • The developed smart curtains offer a feasible and effective solution for dynamic solar modulation and indoor temperature regulation.
  • This technology represents a significant advancement in sustainable building design, providing energy savings and enhanced occupant comfort.
  • The direct-mount capability of these smart curtains bypasses the need for window replacement, simplifying implementation in existing structures.
Keywords:
chromogenic nanomaterialsphotothermal actuatorssmart curtainsstimulus‐responsivesynergy

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