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The aim of this review is to present the actual status of development in adaptive solar control by use of thermotropic and organic thermochromic materials. Such materials are suitable for application in smart windows. In detail polymer blends, hydrogels, resins, and thermoplastic films with a reversible temperature-dependent switching behavior are described. A comparative evaluation of the concepts for these energy efficient materials is given as well. Furthermore, the change of strategy from ordinary shadow systems to intrinsic solar energy reflection materials based on phase transition components and a first remark about their realization is reported. Own current results concerning extruded films and high thermally stable casting resins with thermotropic properties make a significant contribution to this field.

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This paper presents an overview of the preparation, characterization, and potential application of thermochromic polymers. The term thermochromic describes materials which vary their color, color intensity, or transparency in response to temperature changes. Thermochromic effects have been observed in different types of polymer systems such as pure polymers, cross‐linked polymeric networks, polymer blends, and gels, whereby the origin of the thermochromic effect can be multifarious. The color can appear owing to absorption or owing to the physical effect of materials on light. The latter is called physical color and includes scattering and diffraction of light. Research in the field of thermochromic polymers has led to the discovery of novel effects producing thermochromism as well as to the development of thermochromic polymers with improved material properties. Moreover, rational design and optimization with a view to specific applications has started. Selected examples of the different classes of thermochromic polymers are presented and their characteristic material properties and potential applications are pointed out.

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