(Press-News.org)
As global energy consumption continues to rise, buildings account for approximately 40% of total energy use, with nearly half of that dedicated to indoor thermal regulation (heating and cooling). Windows, being the primary pathway for energy exchange between the interior and exterior of buildings, contribute to 20-40% of energy loss. Developing energy-efficient smart windows that reduce energy consumption while maintaining natural lighting and aesthetic appeal has become a key strategy in sustainable building development.
Researchers from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, led by Prof. Shengliang Zhang, have introduced a breakthrough flexible dual-band electrochromic window that integrates energy storage and significantly enhances energy efficiency. This advanced device allows for intelligent control over both visible light and near-infrared (NIR) radiation, offering a remarkable solution for reducing building energy consumption by up to 20% compared to traditional windows.
The core of this innovative window lies in its W18O49 nanowire structure, which enables precise control over optical modulation in both the visible and NIR spectrums. This dual-band electrochromic device (DBED) provides outstanding optical modulation ranges (73.1% for visible light, 85.3% for NIR) and exceptional longevity, with minimal capacity loss after 10,000 cycles (3.3%). Additionally, it boasts an energy recovery efficiency of 51.4%, where energy consumed during the coloring process is recycled, reducing overall net energy consumption.
When integrated into buildings, the device not only optimizes thermal regulation but also demonstrates excellent performance in various climate zones. According to EnergyPlus simulations, DBED outperforms conventional low-emissivity glass in most global climates, providing substantial energy savings. Its ability to selectively modulate light and heat across multiple wavelengths ensures a significant reduction in the energy required for heating and cooling.
The flexibility and scalability of the device, coupled with its high optical modulation and energy recovery capabilities, present a significant step forward in the development of sustainable building materials. Researchers have also demonstrated that the device can be scaled to large sizes without compromising performance, offering promising potential for widespread adoption in energy-efficient buildings.
Despite its success, challenges remain in terms of mass production and cost-efficiency. Future research will focus on enhancing material stability and integrating the technology more seamlessly into existing architectural systems. Additionally, optimizing the design for mass-market applications could pave the way for the next generation of energy-saving smart windows.
In summary, this novel electrochromic device presents a groundbreaking solution for smart windows, combining energy efficiency, flexibility, and energy storage to redefine the future of sustainable building technologies. As further research unlocks its full potential, it could set new standards in intelligent architecture, offering a pathway to more sustainable, energy-efficient buildings worldwide.
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All humans need clean water to live. However, purifying water can be energy-intensive, so there is great interest in improving this process. Researchers at Tohoku University have reported a strategy using data-driven predictions coupled with precise synthesis to accelerate the development of single-atom catalysts (SACs) for more robust and efficient water purification.
SACs are one of the most crucial catalysts. They play a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency in diverse applications including chemical industries, energy conversion, and environmental processes. ...
New University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka research shows Aotearoa has been increasingly accepting new bird species from around the world since the start of the Ice Age, offering clues into future migration patterns.
Since the Ice Age drastically changed the Aotearoa landscape from widely forested to grass and shrubland, researchers set out to determine which of our living and recently extinct birds are a result of existing lineages that adapted to their environment tens of millions of years ago and which are the descendants of comparatively recent invaders.
Using mitogenome data from nearly all living and recently extinct New Zealand mainland bird species, researchers ...
For years, scientific divers at a research station in the Mediterranean Sea had a problem: at some point in every field season, local fish would follow them and steal food intended as experimental rewards. Intriguingly these wild fish appeared to recognize the specific diver who had previously carried food, choosing to follow only them while ignoring other divers. To find out if that was true, a team from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (MPI-AB) in Germany conducted a series of experiments while wearing a range of diving gear, finding ...
A new psychological therapy designed by a team of UCL-led researchers has been found to reduce rates of violence and aggression among male offenders with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), investigated whether aggression and antisocial behaviours could be improved by a modified form of mentalisation-based treatment (MBT).
Mentalisation-based treatment is a type of therapy that helps people to understand their own thoughts and feelings, ...
The rise in human life expectancy has slowed down across Europe since 2011, according to research from the University of East Anglia and partners.
A new study, published today in The Lancet Public Health, reveals that the food we eat, physical inactivity and obesity are largely to blame, as well as the Covid pandemic.
Of all the countries studied, England experienced the biggest slowdown in life expectancy.
It means that rather than looking forward to living longer than our parents or grandparents, ...
A new at-home telerehabilitation care service for stroke patients will be offered to residents of Cameron County in the Rio Grande Valley as part of a randomized clinical trial led by researchers from across UTHealth Houston.
Investigators from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Brownsville, UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, and McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston will create and test software delivered through a website to patients who have recently ...
A recent study published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology explored genetic predictors of prostate cancer progression to help identify its clinical outcomes. Conducted by researchers from the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), the University of São Paulo (USP), and the São Paulo Cancer Institute (ICESP), the study focused on the role of the androgen receptor (AR), its variant AR-V7, and the p160 gene family.
Prostate cancer: a complex and deadly disease
Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among ...
Obesity surgery (also known as bariatric and metabolic surgery) is one of the most common reasons for people to do so called ‘medical tourism’ – where they travel to another country to have the procedure carried out at usually a much lower price than in their home country. However, such procedures can sometimes be botched and lead to infections, temporary or permanent injuries and/or scarring, and in the worst cases, be fatal. Regarding Europe, there is currently no published data evaluating how to improve the safety of obesity surgery medical tourism.
Seeking this type of obesity ...
A new study published in JAMA Network Open finds that low Medicaid telehealth reimbursement in New York State may be exacerbating a workforce crisis at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), particularly among mental health care practitioners. The challenge compounds existing financial instability at FQHCs and barriers to telehealth access among low-income New Yorkers who rely on safety-net care.
The study, led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, highlights several possible solutions, including payment parity ...
AUSTIN, Texas -- McCombs’ faculty research leaped 10 spots to No. 10 worldwide in the Financial Times’ release of its Global MBA Rankings for 2025, a historic high for McCombs reaching back to 1999.
The top spot for research went to the University of Pennsylvania, with Columbia University and the University of Chicago tying for second place.
Faculty Research is the third weightiest component (10%) of the 21 used in the MBA ranking, behind percentage of salary increase (16%) and salary three years post-graduation ...
