A new metamaterial developed by a team of engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder has the ability to passively cool objects, even under direct sunlight.
The new material is a glass-polymer hybrid that measures 50 micrometers thick and reflects incoming solar energy while simultaneously allowing the surface it is applied to shed heat in the form of infrared thermal radiation, CU Boulder Today reports.
In order to accomplish the dual tasks of reflecting solar energy while also allowing infrared radiation to escape, the engineers embedded visibly-scattering but infrared-radiant glass microspheres into a polymer film. A thin silver coating was added underneath to achieve maximum spectral reflectance.
One of the researchers said through the addition of 10 to 20 sm of the material to a single-family rooftop, the house can be significantly cooled down in the summer. Because the metamaterial can be produced economically on rolls, applications can range from small single-family homes to large commercial projects.
Additionally, the glass-polymer hybrid can be used to improve the efficiency and lifetime of solar panels by preventing them from overheating, which reduces the ability to convert solar rays into electricity.
The next step for the researchers is to create a 200-sm “cooling farm” prototype this year while they wait to hear back regarding a patent.
Click here to read the original article and for images of the new material.
Related Stories
Wood | May 14, 2021
What's next for mass timber design?
An architect who has worked on some of the nation's largest and most significant mass timber construction projects shares his thoughts on the latest design trends and innovations in mass timber.
3D Printing | Nov 27, 2020
The Fibonacci House: A test case of 3D construction printing
The Fibonacci House, which we have named after Leonardo Fibonacci, the medieval Italian mathematician, illustrates the potential of 3DCP and demonstrates how a complex design and challenging logistics can be solved through pragmatic planning and 3DCP technology.
Building Materials | Jul 5, 2020
A new report predicts significant demand growth for mass timber components
There should be plenty of wood, but production capacity needs to catch up.
Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Jun 5, 2020
Practice Style Transcendence with Brick
Get inspired! Brick’s adaptability has made it the premier building material for centuries even as styles come and go. Nothing says “classic” like brick, but nothing says “innovative” like brick either. Check out some examples of how fired clay brick remains a major presence in the 21st Century designer’s palette.
Building Materials | Jun 4, 2020
The world’s first building made from carbon-fiber reinforced concrete starts construction in Germany
But greater use of these materials still faces obstacles.
Coronavirus | Apr 16, 2020
COVID-19: Pennsylvania building products supplier raises $1.2 million for Pittsburgh-area food bank
Pennsylvania building products supplier raises $1.2 million for Pittsburgh-area food bank.
Building Materials | Apr 8, 2020
The key to building in space may just be… urine?
A new building method to potentially make space architecture possible enters the fray.
Coronavirus | Apr 5, 2020
COVID-19: Most multifamily contractors experiencing delays in projects due to coronavirus pandemic
The NMHC Construction Survey is intended to gauge the magnitude of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak on multifamily construction.