Here we go again: a few days of Spring and we can already sense that it will be another very hot Summer, with our homes turning into ovens. To combat the heat, we know, we will resort to air conditioners, energy-intensive little monsters that contribute to CO2 emissions. But what if there was a way to keep rooms cool without impacting the environment?
It's the challenge that every year lets us post possible solutions. And it is what a team from the University of Notre Dame in the United States also collected. Their solution is as simple as it is ingenious: an "intelligent" glass that blocks heat while letting light pass through. Let's see together how this invention works.
The invisible enemy: heat wavelengths
The research group led by Professor Tengfei Luo published a study in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science (I link it here) by title "Wide-angle spectral filter for energy-saving windows designed by quantum annealing-enhanced active learning“. As the title suggests, the article describes the development of a kind of coating that aims to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and reduce the use of air conditioning.
The innovative coating is able to block infrared and ultraviolet light while still allowing visible light to pass through, regardless of the position of the sun.
It is important to know that infrared and ultraviolet are the wavelengths responsible for unwanted heat inside homes.
A silicon polymer for greater efficiency
Conventional window coverings are mostly designed to have optimal performance when solar radiation passes through them at an angle of 90 degrees. Unfortunately, the incidence of natural light constantly changes based on the hours and seasons. This means, simply put, that these solutions have their limitations.
To overcome this problem, Professor Tengfei Luo and his colleagues created a window covering composed of ultra-thin layers of silica, alumina and titanium oxide on a glass base. As if that wasn't enough, they added a micrometer-thick silicon polymer to the mix to better return the thermal radiation into the vacuum, i.e. outside the building.
Quantum computing at the service of energy saving
Leveraging quantum computing, the researchers were able to determine the optimal configuration to maximize light penetration while attenuating exposure to heat-generating wavelengths.
Thanks to simulations, the team discovered that their transparent coating could reduce internal temperatures by 5,4 to 7,2°C, regardless of the angle of penetration of sunlight.
Interestingly, in addition to being able to revolutionize the construction sector, this new technology could be extended to the automotive world. Concretely, the coating could be integrated into car windows.
A turning point for a more sustainable future, with fewer air conditioners. Or without.
The University of Notre Dame's invention represents a significant step forward in the fight against global warming and CO2 emissions. Thanks to this "magic" glass, we could soon limit or even avoid the use of energy-intensive air conditioners and high bills, without giving up the comfort of our homes.
But the benefits don't stop there. This technology could also find application in other sectors, such as the automotive sector, helping to reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions.
Of course, the road to large-scale diffusion of these intelligent windows is still long. Further research and investments will be needed to make the product accessible to all. Meanwhile, there is confirmation that sometimes the most ingenious solutions are hidden in invisible details, such as the wavelengths of light.
