Smart transparent woods can block UV and save energy

Smart transparent woods can block UV and save energy

Environmentally friendly buildings are highly attractive for sustainable development and efficient energy consumption. Recently, scientists have made significant strides toward the development of energy-efficient smart windows—with features such as optical modulation, high transparency, low thermal conductivity, and ultraviolet (UV) blocking and heat shielding capabilities—to replace traditional glass windows. Smart windows are a lucrative techn…

Scientists develop smart transparent woods that block UV and save energy

Researchers in the Republic of Korea are pushing smart-window design beyond glass. Professor Sung Ho Song at Kongju National University and Assistant Professor Jin Kim in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Hanbat National University led a project that turns chemically treated wood into a temperature-responsive window panel. The team reports a transparent wood that can shift between hazy privacy and clear daylighting as temper…