Transparent Semicrystalline Copolymer (Case No. 2024-267)
UCLA researchers in the department of materials science and engineering have developed an innovative thermo-responsive, phase-changing copolymer for smart window applications. This transparent, semicrystalline copolymer is composed of a majority highly crystalline co-monomer and a non-compatible minority co-monomer, forming a transparent copolymer that remains clear at elevated temperatures. This innovative copolymer has the ability to transition to a scattered state at elevated temperatures, subsequently mitigating solar heat gain in hot weathers. Furthermore, it has demonstrated a transmittance of 91.4% at 20C and a 3.7% at 50C, with proven durability over 1000 heating and cooling cycles. Furthermore, this copolymer has been shown to modulate incoming solar radiation, significantly reducing solar heat gain. With its superior performance in low temperature transmittance and solar modulation capabilities, this polymer could revolutionize smart window applications and energy saving solutions and potentially reduce electrical grid demands.
A Phase-Changing Polymer Film for Thermochromic Smart Windows Applications (Case No. 2020-944)
UCLA researchers have developed an all-solid thermochromic polymer film for smart window applications. Unlike current thermochromic smart windows, the disclosed film is transparent in colder temperatures, allowing heat to enter, and becomes opaque when warmed, blocking heat. The film can be applied directly to windows or overtop a conducting layer to further enhance uniformity. The modularity of this film is further accentuated by the ability to selectively deposit thicknesses ranging from 2 μm up to several millimeters. The transition temperature of the coating can be controlled based on application needs to be in the range of 25°C-130°C. Importantly, the disclosed film changes its opacity in a broad wavelength range, covering most of the solar flux, and can alternate between opaque and transparent across numerous cycles. Finally, the all-solid nature of the film enhances stability as compared to smart windows which incorporate volatile solvents.
UV-Reflective Paints with High Overall Solar Reflectance for Passive Cooling of Buildings (Case No. 2020-464)
Professor Aaswath Raman and Jyotimoy Mandal have developed an exterior coating with exceptional solar-UV reflectance. The coating can be applied by a painting, dip-coating or other simple techniques. Upon drying, the coating, in sufficient thicknesses, can achieve solar reflectance from 0.94-0.98. With a high overall solar reflectance and high thermal emittance, this coating is ideal for passive daytime radiative cooling of buildings.
Spectrally Selective Thermal Radiators for Cooling of Vertical or Horizontal Surfaces with Limited View of the Sky (Case No. 2020-388)
This novel method achieves passive radiative cooling in vertical (e.g. walls of buildings) and horizontal (e.g. roofs) surfaces with limited view of the sky. The method uses selective emitters made of polymer coatings on metal, which are highly scalable, cheaply manufactured and easily applied onto surfaces. The emitter absorbs and emits in specific portions of the infrared wavelengths, allowing for lower steady-state temperatures and, in most situations, a net cooling effect even with limited view of the sky. The polymer composition can be modified for application. By restricting heat loss and gain only to specific wavelengths, a large amount of radiative heat from terrestrial sources is reflected, enabling a higher degree of cooling.
A Phase-Changing Polymer Film for Broadband Smart Windows Applications (Case No. 2020-101)
Professor Qibing Pei and his research team have developed a new wide bandwidth thermochromic smart window coating. This coating provides a fast and simple way to construct smart windows. The coating is opaque at ambient temperature and becomes transparent at elevated temperatures. The transition temperature of the coating can be controlled based on application needs to be in the range of 25°C-130°C. The all-solid coating has a long cycle lifetime and does not use any metal/metal oxides or liquid crystals so it can be used to modulate light over the entire solar spectrum. This smart window can be used to conserve the hot/cold air within buildings during winter/summer or provide privacy.