Multistimuli-responsive smart windows based on paraffin-polymer composites

Despite their potential to reduce energy consumption in buildings and increase user's comfort, the general application of smart windows is currently hampered by economic technological factors. To overcome these limitations, herein we report a new strategy for fabrication thermoresponsive based on polymer films loaded with paraffin nanoparticles. Proper selection components allows refractive index matching when nanoparticles are solid state - i.e., high visible near-infrared light transparency -, which lost after melting, thereby resulting pronounced scattering opacity. As result, show ample modulation sunlight transmittance upon heating, while additionally exhibiting other advantageous features: facile preparation from low-cost materials; photostability, flexibility scalability; fine tunability thermal response. Moreover, deposition onto transparent electrodes or incorporation nanostructured photothermal agents, solar our paraffin-polymer composites can also be triggered low voltages warrant control absorption improve self-adaptation ambient conditions. Actually, combined activity allow transmission cold weather efficiently reducing heat gain indoors sunny hot days.