STTR Phase I: Autonomous Electrochromic Windows Enabled by Visibly Transparent Energy Harvesting Coatings

这个小企业技术转移第一阶段项目探索了一种由透明光伏涂层技术实现的自主电致变色（EC）窗口。EC窗，根据电输入从透明状态过渡到黑暗状态（反之亦然），通过有效调节进入建筑物的太阳通量，代表了提高建筑能源效率的有希望的途径。尽管技术发达，但电动车窗的广泛采用受到安装挑战的限制，这些挑战源于缺乏自主性（即连接到外部能源、传感器和控制系统）。该团队已经确定了一个关键的解决方案，在EC上集成可见透明的光伏涂层，作为(1)板载能源，收集环境光，为EC转换提供动力；(2)光电探测器，根据外部照明条件的变化，实现动态透明度控制。该项目将展示光伏涂层的相关性能和耐久性规格，以启动大面积窗户集成和自动EC窗户的商业部署。该项目更广泛的影响和商业潜力体现在建筑采用电子窗户的前所未有的自由上，它可以减少建筑冷却、照明和峰值电力需求的电力消耗，最高可达15%-50%。通过在不影响视觉美观的情况下将电源和传感功能与EC窗口集成在一起，可以构建完全自主的隔热玻璃单元（IGU），无需专门安装或外部系统平衡。最终，这将大大扩大电子窗户的采用范围，消除与电子窗户安装的成本和复杂性有关的问题，从而改善投资回收期，简化建筑环境供应链中的决策过程。此外，该项目将导致知识的发展，这些知识将指导未来几代透明光伏电池用于其他产品，其中本地能源和光检测功能可以提供重要价值（例如电子显示器和移动电子配件），增强这些产品的功能而不影响美学。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project explores an autonomous electrochromic (EC) window enabled by a visibly transparent photovoltaic coating technology. EC windows, which transition from a transparent state to a dark state (and vice-versa) based on an electrical input, represent a promising pathway to increasing building energy efficiency by effectively regulating the solar flux into the building. Though well-developed technologically, broad adoption of EC windows is limited by installation challenges rooted in a lack of autonomy (i.e. wiring to an external energy source, sensors, and control systems). The team has identified a key solution in which visibly-transparent photovoltaic coatings are integrated over the EC to serve as (1) an onboard energy source that harvests ambient light to power EC transitions, and (2) a photodetector that enables dynamic transparency control in response to changes in external lighting conditions. This project will demonstrate relevant performance and durability specifications of the photovoltaic coating to initiate large-area window integration and commercial deployment of autonomous EC windows.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is embodied by unprecedented freedom for architectural EC window adoption, which can reduce electricity consumption for cooling, lighting, and peak power demands in buildings by up to 15%-50%. By integrating power and sensing functionalities onboard with the EC window without impacting visual aesthetics, a fully autonomous insulated glazing unit (IGU) can be constructed that requires no specialized installation or external balance of systems. Ultimately this will significantly broaden adoption of EC windows, by eliminating concerns related to the cost and complexity of EC installation, thus improving payback period and simplifying the decision-making process within the supply chain of the built environment. Moreover, this project will result in the development of knowledge that will guide future generations of visibly-transparent photovoltaics for other products in which a local energy source and light detection functionality can provide significant value (e.g. electronic displays and mobile electronic accessories), enhancing the functionality of those products without impacting aesthetics.