Solar light modulating materials for energy efficient smart window design: Recent trends and future Perspectives

Abstract

Smart windows, capable of dynamically modulating solar irradiation across different wavelengths, have garnered significant research interest due to their potential applications in energy conservation, privacy enhancement, and healthcare improvement. Understanding the nature of solar light dictates material selection and design. As solar light consists mainly of visible and infrared, one has to select appropriate material that absorbs or reflects or responds to these bands to optimize efficiency. In this review, we discuss the different materials that are used to achieve a highly efficient smart window design that will ensure human visual comfort and ultimately minimum energy consumption in building spaces. This paper offers a comprehensive survey of recent material technologies and presents insights derived from experimental and simulation studies in the context of building integration. It introduces an innovative performance regulation framework for achieving optimal smart window characteristics and assesses their practicality within both material and building applications. Furthermore, the paper addresses persistent obstacles and future research directions in this promising field. The pursuit of economically viable and adaptable smart window solutions holds the promise of advancing energy efficiency, comfort, and privacy across diverse built environments.