"It performed better than we thought it would based on our theoretical understanding," he said. It is highly reflective at up to a 60-degree angle of incidence, an improvement over the previous prototype. Instead of utilising cubes, this smart glass relies on the total internal reflection of one-dimensional structures layered perpendicularly. Goossen's smart glass system can switch from transparent to reflective a thousand times without degrading, as shown in a paper published late last year in the journal Optics Express.Īt this week's conference, Goossen revealed a new, improved design. This is called refractive index matching. When combined, the light can pass through, and the system becomes transparent. This liquid has optical properties, or interaction with visible light, that match the optical properties of the retroreflective plastic. Then the chamber is filled with a fluid called methyl salicylate - an inexpensive wintergreen extract that happens to be the active ingredient in some over-the-counter pain relief creams. The plastic contains tiny cube-shaped structures that make the material retroreflective, meaning that it bounces light back to its source, like a bicycle reflector does. It starts with two sheets of plastic separated by a thin cavity. The principles behind this smart glass technology are surprisingly simple. Goossen shared his latest smart glass prototype on Monday, 5 March in a keynote address at the SPIE Smart Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation for Energy Systems IV conference in Denver. It is also more transparent in its transparent state and more reflective in its reflective state than competitors, he said. This "smart glass" technology could be utilised in eco-friendly windows, windshields, roof panes and building envelopes, absorbing light and heat in the winter and reflecting it away in the summer.Īlthough Goossen isn't the first scientist to make smart glass, his team's invention is about one-tenth the price of other versions. Goossen and Daniel Wolfe, who earned a doctoral degree from UD last year, developed panels that can switch between allowing light in and blocking it out. University of Delaware-developed smart glass technology, starts opaque but turns transparent when filled with index-matching fluid, as shown in the bottom portion of the pane / Image: University of Delaware At least that's what Keith Goossen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Delaware (UD), hopes. Someday we won't need curtains or blinds on our windows, and we will be able to block out light - or let it in - with just the press of a button. Smart glass made better, and cheaper news
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |