Masato Hyodo

A novel switchable glazing formed by electrically induced chains of suspensions

Chains of submicron size rodlike TiOxNy particles, formed along an electric field by the so‐called electrorheological effect, were softly fixed in a silicone elastomer film interposed between a pair of indium–tin oxide glasses. It has been found that the transmittance of the device was remarkably changed by displacing one substrate relatively to the other. This transmittance variation was linear with the relative displacement between substrates. For a displacement of about 35 μm, a solar transmittance change of 40.7% was obtained, while it was below 6.9% for a cell containing TiO2 particles. The excellent optical properties of the cell using TiOxNy particles as switchable glazing was imputable to the large absorption coefficient of the particles over the wavelength of the solar spectrum (∼105 cm−1) and to a drastic variation in the cross‐sectional area of the particle chain for the light when submitting the substrates to shear stress. This new type of the switchable glazing was referred to as ‘‘shear stre...

Electrically switchable window using a suspension of TiOxNy particles

A dipole particle suspension device was fabricated by sandwiching rodlike TiOxNy particles dispersed in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) derivative between two indium‐tin‐oxide coated glass substrates. On applying and removing an electric field of 2 kV mm−1 with a frequency of 200 Hz, a reversible solar transmittance change as much as 54.1% was obtained. The transmittance change was attributed to the large absorption coefficient (∼105 cm−1) of the particle and a drastic decrease in the number of particles taking part in the light absorption due to particle chain formation along the electric field.

Angular Dependence of Visible Transmittance in a Laminated Glazing Containing Electrically Induced Chains of Suspensions

The angular dependence of visible transmittance and reflectance was examined for a laminated glazing containing many TiO{sub x}N{sub y} particle chains formed in a silicone gel along an external electric field (glass/laminate film/gel layer/indium-tin oxide/glass). The difference in transmittance at the light incident angles of 0 and 60 {degree} attained as much as 40%, while the reflectance change was very small. The transmittance change was ascribable to the high absorption coefficient of the particles ({approximately}10{sup 5} cm{sup {minus}1}) and the regular chain formation normal to the glass substrates. Also, the adhesive strength of the gel to the laminate film was increased ca. 8.5% by annealing the gel at 300 C for 15 min. The increases in the polar component of the surface tension and in the adhesive area due to the resultant surface roughness of the gel are plausible explanations of the heat-treatment effect. The excellent angular selectivity of the laminate glazing with adequate adhesive strength is of potential interest for energy efficient windows for buildings and automobiles.