SBIR Phase II: Thin Film Patterned Optical Retarders for Low Energy Smart Glass Applications

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将开发低成本智能窗技术。该项目将利用当代显示器行业的制造和加工技术，创造独特的大面积光学薄膜。这些薄膜随后将用于构建节能智能窗户，根据命令调节光的透射或反射。 窗户，天窗，和其他玻璃与这项技术将有能力变暗的命令。 在这个第二阶段项目中，将设计、建造和评估窗口大小的原型。 生产，材料成本和原型操作将被考虑。 这些原型的成功制造将使智能窗户能够以电化学被动方式制造，简化其在现有窗户中的安装，最大限度地减少前期成本，并最终减少能源费用。该技术还能够作为售后市场或改造解决方案进行应用。该项目的更广泛影响将是仅在美国就可能节省数十亿美元的能源成本，并减少碳足迹。 建筑物消耗了美国70%的电力。作为采光/自然供暖策略的一部分，智能窗技术因其降低建筑能耗的能力而备受关注。不幸的是，现有的智能窗产品在寿命、可扩展性和成本方面受到严重限制。 即将开发的技术是一种完全不同的智能窗户方法，因为它使用的不是电化学过程，而是稳定的薄膜。 这为消费者提供了更高的化学稳定性、更长的寿命、更好的制造可扩展性、功率独立性（通过手动操作）和更低的成本。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)Phase II project will develop a low-cost smart-window technology. This project will utilize contemporary display industry fabrication and processing technologies to create unique large-area optical films. These films will be subsequently used to construct energy-efficient smart windows that modulate transmission or reflection of light on command. Windows, skylights, and other glazings made with this technology will have the ability to darken on command. In this Phase II project, window-size prototypes will be designed, constructed and evaluated. Production, material costs, and prototype operation will be considered. Successful fabrication of these prototypes will enable smart windows to be manufactured in an electrochemically passive manner, simplifying their installation in existing windows, minimizing up-front costs, and ultimately reducing energy bills. The technology is also uniquely capable of being applied as an aftermarket or retrofit solution.The broader impact of this project will be a potential savings of billions of dollars in energy costs in the United States alone, and a reduction of carbon footprint. Buildings are responsible for seventy percent of the electricity consumed in the United States. As part of a daylighting /natural heating strategy, smart window technologies have received much attention for their ability to reduce building energy consumption. Unfortunately, existing smart window products suffer from severe limitations in lifespan, scalability and cost. The technology to be developed is a radically different approach to smart windows because instead of electrochemical processes, it utilizes stable films. This affords more chemical stability, longer life, better manufacturing scalability, power independence (via manual operation), and lower costs to the consumer.