US 12,391,869 B2 · Thermo-responsive molecules for controlled heat and light transmission windows and applications thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to design and applications of a class of water-soluble small molecules represented by Formula 1. In aqueous solutions the said molecules exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition near room temperature, imparting a temperature triggered switching of transparency stages. Further, it discloses a solution comprising Formula 1 and a scalable smart radiative energy management system that takes form of a dynamic window, wherein the aqueous solution is sandwiched between two transparent glass panes to enable modulation of light and heat transmission. With simple and economical starting materials, the dynamic windows of present invention represent leaps towards creating a niche technology with multifarious applications in developing scalable, smart energy management systems for indoor building environments.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A molecule of Formula 1

wherein, R1 is independently selected from [(CH2)a—O]b—CH3 wherein a is 1 or 2;
b is 8 to 12;
X is selected from the group consisting of
—C═C—, and —C≡C—;
Y is selected from —N═N— and —C≡C—;
n is 0 or 1;
R is selected from hydrogen, halogen and C6-25 aryl, wherein said C6-25 aryl may be optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, OH, CN, —O(C1-C30 alkyl), —(NH)1-2(C1-C30 alkyl chain), —N(C1-C30 alkyl)2, COOH, and —COO(C1-C30 alkyl);
or
wherein R2 is C6-25 aryl, wherein said —C6-25 aryl may be optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, OH, CN, —O(C1-C30 alkyl), —(NH)1-2(C1-C30 alkyl), —N(C1-C30 alkyl)2, COOH, and —COO(C1-C30 alkyl).

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermo-responsive molecules for controlled heat and light transmission windows and applications thereof

Life of this patent

Thermo-responsive molecules for controlled heat and light transmission windows and applications thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12