Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films

The enhanced infrared shielding function of antimony tin oxide (ATO)-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film enables its use for smart windows, because it can switch between transparent and scattered states, which can protect people’s privacy. When PDLC film is used for a building’s doors...

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Main Authors: Hongren Chen, Baohua Yuan, Xiao Wang, Xiaoming Zhang, Qilei Wang, Zuowei Zhang, Yunxiao Ren, Yihai Yang, Zihui Ye, Ruochen Lan, Lanying Zhang, Wei Hu, Yong Jiang, Huai Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1730
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author Hongren Chen
Baohua Yuan
Xiao Wang
Xiaoming Zhang
Qilei Wang
Zuowei Zhang
Yunxiao Ren
Yihai Yang
Zihui Ye
Ruochen Lan
Lanying Zhang
Wei Hu
Yong Jiang
Huai Yang
author_facet Hongren Chen
Baohua Yuan
Xiao Wang
Xiaoming Zhang
Qilei Wang
Zuowei Zhang
Yunxiao Ren
Yihai Yang
Zihui Ye
Ruochen Lan
Lanying Zhang
Wei Hu
Yong Jiang
Huai Yang
author_sort Hongren Chen
collection DOAJ
description The enhanced infrared shielding function of antimony tin oxide (ATO)-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film enables its use for smart windows, because it can switch between transparent and scattered states, which can protect people’s privacy. When PDLC film is used for a building’s doors and windows or external walls, we hope that it can have a higher infrared shielding capability, in order to reduce the indoor temperature affected by solar irradiation, so as to reduce the energy consumption caused by refrigeration equipment. However, the infrared shielding capability of the existing PDLC is far from sufficient. In this work, modified ATO nanoparticles of different sizes were introduced into the PDLC system to improve its infrared shielding capability. It was found that when the ATO particle size is 20 nm and the doping content is 0.6 wt%, the modified PDLC sample provides optimal infrared shielding function while maintaining excellent electro-optical properties.
format Article
id doaj-art-d0e5778dfaa44c58b5f229e24c39dfa9
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issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-d0e5778dfaa44c58b5f229e24c39dfa92025-08-20T03:13:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01308173010.3390/molecules30081730Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal FilmsHongren Chen0Baohua Yuan1Xiao Wang2Xiaoming Zhang3Qilei Wang4Zuowei Zhang5Yunxiao Ren6Yihai Yang7Zihui Ye8Ruochen Lan9Lanying Zhang10Wei Hu11Yong Jiang12Huai Yang13School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaInstitute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaResearch Centre for Modern Police Technology and Equipment, China People’s Police University, Langfang 065000, ChinaResearch Centre for Modern Police Technology and Equipment, China People’s Police University, Langfang 065000, ChinaResearch Centre for Modern Police Technology and Equipment, China People’s Police University, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaInstitute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaThe enhanced infrared shielding function of antimony tin oxide (ATO)-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film enables its use for smart windows, because it can switch between transparent and scattered states, which can protect people’s privacy. When PDLC film is used for a building’s doors and windows or external walls, we hope that it can have a higher infrared shielding capability, in order to reduce the indoor temperature affected by solar irradiation, so as to reduce the energy consumption caused by refrigeration equipment. However, the infrared shielding capability of the existing PDLC is far from sufficient. In this work, modified ATO nanoparticles of different sizes were introduced into the PDLC system to improve its infrared shielding capability. It was found that when the ATO particle size is 20 nm and the doping content is 0.6 wt%, the modified PDLC sample provides optimal infrared shielding function while maintaining excellent electro-optical properties.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1730PDLCATOnanoparticlesinfrared shielding
spellingShingle Hongren Chen
Baohua Yuan
Xiao Wang
Xiaoming Zhang
Qilei Wang
Zuowei Zhang
Yunxiao Ren
Yihai Yang
Zihui Ye
Ruochen Lan
Lanying Zhang
Wei Hu
Yong Jiang
Huai Yang
Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films
Molecules
PDLC
ATO
nanoparticles
infrared shielding
title Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films
title_full Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films
title_fullStr Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films
title_short Enhanced Infrared Shielding Function in ATO-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films
title_sort enhanced infrared shielding function in ato doped polymer dispersed liquid crystal films
topic PDLC
ATO
nanoparticles
infrared shielding
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1730
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