STTR Phase I: Monolithic Aerogel Designs for Daylighting Applications

这个小型企业技术转让(STTR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是在采光应用中使用气凝胶，将自然照明有效地融入建筑设计，显著降低能源消耗，同时改善环境，从而造福社会。自然光与健康和生产力有关采光市场认为自然光的透射率、光学清晰度和隔热性能具有很高的价值；然而，现有的产品通常无法实现这三点。拟议的技术将热性能与窗户清晰度分离，使最终用户能够体验到增加自然光的好处，而不会屈服于低半透明或高热量或高冷却损失。这一解决方案将提供自然采光的好处，同时提高建筑的整体能效。直接的结果是，建筑师和玻璃承包商在为结构添加窗户时不会受到热因素的限制。此外，它还满足了对隔音窗户的需求。STTR第一阶段项目的智力优势在于将专利设计与获得许可的气凝胶制造方法相结合，生产出一种具有变革性的、优雅的窗户产品，促进自然采光并减少能源浪费。与目前采光产品中使用的材料相比，二氧化硅气凝胶单体具有出色的绝缘能力和优越的光学性能；然而，传统的单体气凝胶制备方法耗时耗力。该项目采用的专利制造方法具有多方面的优势，包括易于自动化、处理和生产一致的整体气凝胶，并提供了现有采光解决方案的替代方案，有可能改变普遍停滞不前的行业。为了减少将气凝胶窗产品推向市场的风险，该项目的重点是：(1)改进气凝胶成型技术；(2)开发专有创新以建立更大的系统；(3)试验掺杂染料和蚀刻的气凝胶以获得量身定制的美学效果；(4)为两个原型窗(一个无色，一个美观)制造气凝胶；(5)开发一种简化的窗组装方法，以制造两个原型窗；以及(6)研究气凝胶前体供应链和替代化学物质的使用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in the use of aerogels in daylighting applications to efficiently incorporate natural lighting in building design, benefitting society by significantly decreasing energy consumption and simultaneously improving environments. Natural light is linked to health and productivity The daylighting market ascribes high value to natural light transmission, optical clarity, and thermal insulation; however, existing products generally fail to achieve all three. The proposed technology decouples thermal performance from window clarity, allowing end users to experience the benefits of increased natural light without being resigned to low translucency or high heat or cooling loss. This solution will provide the benefits of natural lighting while improving overall energy efficiency in buildings. As a direct result, architects and glazing contractors will not be limited by thermal considerations when adding windows to structures. Further, it addresses a need for windows that are acoustically insulating.The intellectual merit of this STTR Phase I project lies in the combination of a proprietary design with a licensed aerogel fabrication method to yield a transformative, elegant window product that promotes natural lighting and reduces energy waste. Silica aerogel monoliths have outstanding insulating ability and superior optical properties to materials currently used in daylighting products; however, traditional methods for making monolithic aerogels are time- and labor-intensive. The patented fabrication method employed in this project is advantageous for several reasons, including ease of automation, speed of processing and production of consistent monolithic aerogels, and offers an alternative to existing daylighting solutions with the potential to transform a generally stagnant industry. To mitigate the risks associated with bringing an aerogel window product to market, this project focuses on: (1) improving aerogel molding technology; (2) developing a proprietary innovation to build larger systems; (3) experimenting with dye-doped and etched aerogels for tailored aesthetic effects; (4) fabricating aerogels for two prototype windows (one colorless, one aesthetically enhanced); (5) developing a simplified window assembly method to fabricate two prototype windows; and (6) studying the aerogel precursor supply chain and use of alternative chemistries.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.