Abstract :
Optical switching devices for regulating incident solar energy that can replace traditional windows in buildings, vehicles, and aircraft are discussed. The chromogenic material in these smart windows exhibits a large change in optical properties with variation in applied electrical field, charge, light intensity, spectral composition, or temperature. The optical change transforms the material from a highly transmitting state to a partly reflecting (or absorbing) state over all or part of the visible and solar spectra. The optical switching can be activated electrically or nonelectrically. Electrically activated types, including electrochromic, liquid-crystal, and dispersed-particle (electrophoretic) devices, as well as devices based on reversible electrodeposition, and nonelectrically activated types, including devices based on photochromic and thermochromic materials, are described.<>
Keywords :
aircraft; building; electrochromic devices; liquid crystal devices; optical materials; optical switches; vehicles; absorbing state; aircraft; buildings; chromogenic material; dispersed-particle; electrically activated types; electrochromic devices; electrophoretic devices; incident solar energy; liquid-crystal; nonelectrically activated types; optical switching; photochromic materials; reflecting state; reversible electrodeposition; smart windows; thermochromic materials; transparent state; vehicles; Aerospace materials; Aircraft manufacture; Composite materials; Electrochromism; Liquid crystal devices; Optical devices; Optical materials; Optical switches; Solar energy; Temperature;
