Oct-26-13
A new smart window able to let in light, block heat and generate power could significantly reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, cool and light buildings.
The window was created by a team from Shanghai University, who were hoping to create a transparent window that could also generate power like a solar cell. They succeeded by sandwiching a thin film of vanadium oxide between two layers of polycarbonate. The vanadium oxide will turn metallic at temperatures over 154°F, reflecting infrared light while still allowing the windows to remain transparent. The VO2 also scattered light to the sides of the panel, which the team took advantage of by attaching a photovoltaic cell to the edge to capture the scattered light, harnessing enough power from a section only a few inches wide to power to 1.5 volt lamp.
Although the team developed the concept for the VO2-embedded windows about a year ago, this window is the first able to also take advantage of its light-scattering properties to harness solar energy.
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DISCOVERY.COM]
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NATURE]
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