The new material is able to replace glass in buildings and ensure low electricity consumption.
Scientists have created a new polymer-based metamaterial with unique properties. It is transparent, lets in a lot of sunlight, provides privacy in the room, and is also able to cool it even in extreme heat. Scientists believe that with the help of this material, which can replace glass in walls and roofs, it is possible to reduce electricity costs. The results of the research were published in the journal Nature Communications, writes Interesting Engineering.
Glass components in the walls and roofs of buildings increase the natural lighting of the building during the day and reduce electricity consumption. But they also create glare that can cause discomfort to a person inside the building. Also, glass components reduce the level of privacy and lead to heating of the premises. And the glass needs constant cleaning. The authors of the new development claim that their material solves all these problems and can replace glass in buildings. At the same time, the use of this material can significantly reduce electricity costs.
Scientists have created a microphotonic multifunctional metamaterial (PMMM) based on a polymer with a surface of microscopic silicon pyramids. These pyramids are only 10 micrometers in size, which is about 1/10 the thickness of a human hair. Such a surface enables PMMM to diffuse light well, self-clean, cool the room, and at the same time the material has high transparency.
With the help of glass, you can save electricity, because a lot of sunlight enters the room. But the glass does not allow heat to escape from the room, so the temperature inside rises. That is why we have to use air conditioners in the summer, which means that electricity costs increase.
Although the new material has high transparency, it does not retain heat inside the room. PMMM emits heat in the form of long-wave infrared radiation, which allows the room to remain cooler even on a very hot day.
As experiments have shown, the new material is able to reduce the temperature in the visit by 6 degrees Celsius compared to the ambient temperature. Also, the metamaterial showed a high level of transparency. If ordinary glass transmits approximately 91% of light, then PMMM — 95% The material can also scatter 73% of sunlight due to its surface structure. This means that practically nothing will be visible from the outside, which means that high privacy is ensured. At the same time, the light is scattered in the room in different directions, and not directly, as through ordinary glass. This creates more comfortable conditions in the room.
Microscopic pyramids on the surface of the material allow it to self-clean. Water accumulates on the surface and rolls down, taking dirt and dust with it. Scientists claim that PMMM was created from environmentally friendly and commercially viable polymer materials, making it an excellent alternative to ordinary glass.