The Development of Magic-E Materials as Smart Window Films

人们对智能窗户材料的需求越来越大，这种材料可以调节其透明或不透明的状态，不仅可以节省能源，还可以提供所需的安全性和隐私性。我们使用软聚合物开发了机械响应光学薄膜，与传统的智能窗膜相比，它具有相似或更好的性能，而且价格可能要低得多。我们的材料是基于水性聚合物乳胶，可以制成耐用的薄膜，没有挥发性有机化合物的排放。根据美国于2021年9月15日提交的临时申请，我们建议推进该技术并将其转化为创新产品。该项目将专注于解决长期稳定性问题，薄膜的大规模生产，以及原型智能窗口设备的组装，以推广技术并吸引早期投资。我们期望开发的技术将扩大或入侵现有的小型窗膜市场（因为原材料和工艺都是环保的），并可能在节能建筑和交通运输方面拥有一个利基市场。

There are increasing demands for smart window materials that can modulate their states of transparency or opaqueness to not only save energy but also deliver the desired security and privacy. We have developed mechanoresponsive optical films using soft polymers that have similar or better properties with potentially much lower price compared with conventional smart window films. Our materials are based on water-borne polymer latex, which can be fabricated into durable films without VOCs emission. Based on the US provisional application filed on September 15, 2021, we propose to advance this technology and turn it into an innovative product. The project will focus on solving the problem of long-term stability, the larger-scale production of the film, and the assembly of a prototype smart window device to promote the technology and attract early stage investments. We expect the developed technology will expand or invade the existing markets for small window films (as both the raw materials and processes are environmentally friendly), and may have a niche market for energy-saving buildings and transportations.