Skip to main content

Liquid windows can turn opaque in the heat and save energy

You might not think of windows as objects in need of technological innovation — but they play an important part in saving energy through heat insulation. And now, a team of scientists has developed a “liquid window” panel which can change opacity to help conserve energy and keep people indoors more comfortable.

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) created their new window by taking two glass panels and placing a hydrogel-based liquid between them. This liquid changes its configuration based on its temperature, which means it can turn opaque and act as insulation to keep heat out on hot days, then revert to being clear on colder days.

The smart window turns opaque when exposed to heat, thus blocking sunlight, and, when cool, returns to its original 'clear' state.
The smart window turns opaque when exposed to heat, thus blocking sunlight, and, when cool, returns to its original ‘clear’ state. NTU Singapore

Wang Shancheng, Ph.D. student at NTU and first author of the study, explained: “Sound-blocking double glazed windows are made with two pieces of glass which are separated by an air gap. Our window is designed similarly, but in place of air, we fill the gap with the hydrogel-based liquid, which increases the sound insulation between the glass panels, thereby offering additional benefit not commonly found in current energy-saving windows.”

Recommended Videos

When testing their window panel, the researchers found a room fitted with the smart window used 11% less energy to keep the same temperature when compared to a normal glass window.

Members of the NTU research team include Dr Long Yi (left), Senior Lecturer at the School of Materials Science & Engineering, and PhD student Wang Shancheng (right).
Members of the NTU research team include Dr Long Yi (left), Senior Lecturer at the School of Materials Science & Engineering, and Ph.D. student Wang Shancheng (right). NTU Singapore

The windows have high heat capacity, which means they collect heat during the day and disperse it at night. The researchers think that these windows would be most useful in office buildings, where people use the building mostly during the day.

And the windows are relatively easy to manufacture to any required shape, according to Dr Long Yi, lead author and Senior Lecturer at the School of Materials Science & Engineering: “Our innovation combines the unique properties of both types of materials — hydrogel and water. By using a hydrogel-based liquid we simplify the fabrication process to pouring the mixture between two glass panels. This gives the window a unique advantage of high uniformity, which means the window can be created in any shape and size.”

Georgina Torbet
Georgina has been the space writer at Digital Trends space writer for six years, covering human space exploration, planetary…
Apple’s smart home display already sounds like a convenience victory
Nest Hub Max

Over the past few weeks, rumors of Apple developing a smart display for home control have picked up pace. The company is said to be developing two versions, and one of them might even feature a robotic arm and revive an iconic Mac’s design. 

Now, Bloomberg has shared some juicy details about how the entry-level option will look and work. The device will offer a 6-inch screen with a square-ish format flanked by sensors, including a FaceTime camera in landscape orientation. 

Read more
Trade group says EV tax incentive helps U.S. industry compete versus China
ev group support tax incentive 201 seer credit eligibility

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group with members including the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, is coming out in support of tax incentives for both the production and sale of electric vehicles (EVs).

Domestic manufacturers of EVs and their components, such as batteries, have received tax incentives that have driven job opportunities in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia, the group says.

Read more
The Penguin fans think it hid a classic Batman villain in plain sight
Cristin Milioti stands behind Theo Rossi in The Penguin.

It may be a spinoff of one of the biggest comic book movies of the past few years, but The Penguin is actually pretty light on Easter eggs and deep-cut references. That said, some fans of the DC series believe they've spotted an intriguing pair of items in it that may hint at one Penguin character's real identity. Fans have specifically spotlighted a quick shot from The Penguin's fourth episode in which Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) is shown standing alone in the office of her former Arkham Asylum psychiatrist, Dr. Julian Rush (Theo Rossi).

Behind Sofia, fans have noted a familiar-looking rag mask hanging on Rush's desk, as well as a glove with what looks like syringe-like fingers, two items that are famously worn in the comics by Jonathan Crane, a.k.a. Scarecrow. Like Rush, Scarecrow is a psychology expert in the comics, one who develops a hallucinogenic drug that he uses to terrorize the people of Gotham City with their worst fears. At no point in The Penguin does Rush do anything like that, but the presence of the villain's mask and glove in his office has led many to speculate about whether or not Rossi's character will turn out to be the Scarecrow of Matt Reeves' Batman universe.

Read more