SBIR Phase I: Low-cost nanostructured electrochromic smart window coatings

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发一种低成本的纳米结构智能窗户涂料，通过动态优化太阳能增益来降低建筑能耗。可伸缩溶液处理技术将用于创建独特的纳米结构电致变色层。新的电致变色层将首先被检查兼容性和性能，然后随后用于构建固态节能窗口。固态电致变色器件的系统表征将识别系统中性能受限的组件。在成功制造后，电致变色窗口有望在快速开关速度下实现增强的太阳能调制。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力与住宅和商业建筑有关，这是在全球范围内提高能源效率和可持续性的绝佳机会。目前，建筑物内的照明和热管理占家庭能源消耗的20%。使用电致变色窗的经济和环境效益是显而易见的：减少1/4(1万亿BTU)的能源消耗将平均节省106亿美元，同时消除对化石燃料产生的约21.5千兆瓦电力的需求，并减少近5900万吨二氧化碳排放。据估计，在建筑中使用电致变色窗可以实现峰值能源需求减少50%，整体能源消耗减少30%。尽管如此，目前市场上的电致变色窗口由于成本较高，尚未发挥其市场潜力。该项目中的新型电致变色窗口是基于一种创新的设计，该设计在降低生产成本的同时提高了寿命和性能。这一独特技术的广泛采用不仅将提高动态窗口的市场渗透率，而且将建立一个新的性能和成本基准。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a low-cost nanostructured smart window coating that reduces building energy consumption by dynamically optimizing solar gain. Scalable solution processed techniques will be used to create unique nanostructured electrochromic layers. The novel electrochromic layers will be initially examined for compatibility and performance then subsequently used to construct solid state energy efficient windows. Systematic characterization of the solid state electrochromic device will identify components in the system which are performance limiting. Upon successful fabrication, the electrochromic windows expect to achieve enhanced solar modulation at fast switching speeds. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project pertains to residential and commercial buildings, representing a prime opportunity to improve energy efficiency and sustainability worldwide. Currently, lighting and thermal management within buildings accounts for 20% of domestic energy consumption. The economic and environmental benefits of using electrochromic windows are clear: reducing one quad (one quadrillion BTUs) of energy use would yield an average savings of $10.6 billion, while eliminating the need for about 21.5 gigawatts of power produced by fossil fuels, and saving nearly 59 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. It is estimated that the use of electrochromic windows in building can achieve a 50% reduction in peak energy demand and a 30% reduction in overall energy use. Still, current electrochromic windows in the market have not reached their market potential due to their high cost. The novel electrochromic windows in this project are based on an innovative design that increases lifetime and performance while reducing production cost. Wide scale adoption of this unique technology will not only enhance market penetration for dynamic windows, but will establish a new benchmark for performance and cost.