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，这些材料可以调节其透明或不透明状态，不仅可以节省能源，还可以提供所需的安全性和隐私性。我们已经开发了使用软聚合物的机械响应光学膜，与传统的智能窗膜相比，该软聚合物具有类似或更好的性能，并且价格可能低得多。我们的材料基于水性聚合物乳胶，可制成耐用的薄膜，不会释放VOC。基于2021年9月15日提交的美国临时申请，我们建议推进这项技术，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，大规模生产薄膜，并组装原型智能窗户设备，以推广技术并吸引早期投资。我们预计，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运输方面拥有利基市场。

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.