Swift Photochromic Smart Window Based on Plasmonic Yolk‐Shell Nanophosphors

Abstract

Herein, the fabrication of eccentric Ag@Void@Y2SiO5:Pr3+ plasmonic yolk‐shell nanophosphors (PYSNPs) with high up‐conversion efficiency, and their incorporation on photochromic WO3 layers, is demonstrated to fabricate photochromic smart windows with high coloration contrast and swift color change. The up‐conversion efficiency of the Pr3+ ion‐doped Y2SiO5 (Y2SiO5:Pr3+) nanoshells is enhanced by about 50% through the incorporation of carefully designed plasmonic Ag cores placed inside their hollow cavities. Introduction of these geometry‐optimized plasmonic nanophosphors at the surface of photochromic WO3 films results in about 24‐fold and tenfold enhancements of their coloration rate and kinetic constant, respectively. The strategy adopted for designing and fabricating the Ag@Void@Y2SiO5:Pr3+ PYSNPs and their subsequent incorporation in conventional photochromic films offers an exciting approach for fabricating photochromic smart windows with dynamically controlled transmission of solar radiation, which is a promising technology for reducing energy consumption associated with heating, ventilation, and air‐conditioning of buildings.

Nanowire-based smart windows combining electro- and thermochromics for dynamic regulation of solar radiation

“…Recently, these smart windows exhibit excellent modulation efficiency by switching rapidly from bleached to colored state, allowing for uniform tinting across the entire window surface in mere seconds 16,17 . Furthermore, various micro-and nano-structures are used for improving the performance of these materials to meet different applications [18][19][20] . These previous works demonstrated the potential of smart windows to realize solar radiation modulation and energy saving.…”

Future for inertial-fusion energy in Europe: a roadmap

“…Significant progress in the multidisciplinary science of materials at extreme conditions driven by the HiPER project [ 10 , 23 ] has enabled improvements in laser optics and structural materials, the key parts of the IFE chamber. After HiPER, more of the national research was dedicated to a better understanding of optical materials under extreme irradiation conditions [ 114 – 116 ] , including basic theory and proposal of optical materials [ 117 – 119 ] ; tritium breeding optimization [ 120 ] and its retention assessment; control of irradiation conditions of the first wall [ 121 ] and its material resistance to charged particles and X-rays [ 122 , 123 ] ; blanket material damage and liquid metal corrosion, including research on coatings [ 124 – 126 ] ; determination of neutron activation to establish the responses to thermo-fluid dynamics for the cooling and energy recovery systems. Beyond the ignition demonstration, three operation modes for the IFE facility were considered in HiPER: (i) a burst mode demonstrating some critical elements of the future power plant, such as repetitive laser shots, target injection and debris mitigation and management; (ii) a prototype of the fusion reactor with a blanket and heat exchanger for the energy recovery and tritium breeding studies; and (iii) a demo power plant with the fuel breeding and electricity generation for the optimization and commercialization of the IFE technology.…”

“…Significant progress in the multidisciplinary science of materials at extreme conditions driven by the HiPER project [10,23] has enabled improvements in laser optics and structural materials, the key parts of the IFE chamber. After HiPER, more of the national research was dedicated to a better understanding of optical materials under extreme irradiation conditions [114][115][116] , including basic theory and proposal of optical materials [117][118][119] ; tritium breeding optimization [120] and its retention assessment; control of irradiation conditions of the first wall [121] and its material resistance to charged particles and X-rays [122,123] ; blanket material damage and liquid metal corrosion, including research on coatings [124][125][126] ; determination of neutron activation to establish the responses to thermo-fluid dynamics for the cooling and energy recovery systems.…”

Photo‐Controllable Ultralong Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence: State of the Art

“…[10,11] The PC behaviors are usually accompanied by the structural transformation, including generation/ disappearance of free radicals of exciplexes, ring closing/opening and E/Z isomerization. [12][13][14] The recovery of altered RTP following photo-irradiation can be achieved by exposing the samples to a dark environment, applying heat, or subjecting them to light irradiation in a different wavelength range. Thus, the reversible PC process could potentially realize the dynamic mode of ultralong RTP emission theoretically.…”