Thermoresponsive, Freezing-Resistant Smart Windows with Adjustable Transition Temperature Made from Hydroxypropyl Cellulose and Glycerol

Abstract

A thermoresponsive smart window that can switch its transmittance to control heating from sunlight is attracting great attention. Such windows made from a hydrogel of a thermoresponsive polymer such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) or hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) have been successful and can switch their transmittance at room temperature. However, such hydrogels occasionally freeze in cold places, degrading their transmittance. Thus, a thermoresponsive hydrogel that can be used in various geographical regions is desired. Here, we produced a thermoresponsive smart window with freezing resistance made from HPC and glycerol. We could adjust its switching temperature by simply changing the amount of added glycerol, letting us easily change it to room temperature for practical use. These smart windows show high cyclic performance, freezing resistance, and heat shielding, demonstrating great potential.