智能窗用液晶/高分子复合材料研究进展

Research progress of liquid crystal/polymer composites for smart windows

随着节能号角的吹响,具有动态调节透光率的智能窗在高能耗建筑星罗棋布的今天显得尤为重要。液晶/高分子复合体系因其优异的外场响应性能和良好的加工性能在智能窗用调光膜领域具有广阔的应用前景。根据调节机制的不同,液晶/高分子复合调光膜可分为电控、温控、力控、光控调光膜等。其中,电控调光膜和温控调光膜因其控制方法简单、易于实现实际应用而备受青睐。近年来通过将液晶调光膜与太阳能电池结合这类新兴技术的发展,有望推进建筑领域的绿色智能革新。本文根据目前智能窗用液晶/高分子复合体系的研究情况,总结了聚合物分散液晶、聚合物稳定液晶、聚合物分散与稳定液晶共存体系、聚合物网络液晶、聚合物墙稳定液晶的微观结构和响应机理,对其研究进展及与其他新兴技术的结合应用进行了综述。最后,对智能窗的未来发展趋势进行了简要展望。

With the sound of energy saving horn,smart windows with dynamic adjustment of light transmittance are particularly important in today’s high-energy buildings.Due to the excellent external field response performance and good processing performance,liquid crystal/polymer composite systems exhibit various application prospects in smart window that dynamically modulates light transmittance.According to the regulation mechanism,smart windows fabricated by liquid crystal/polymer composite can be divided into electrochromic,thermoschromic,mechanochromic and photochromic.Among them,electrochromic and thermochromic windows are of great importance because of the feasibility of preparation and application.In recent years,the emerging technologies that combined smart window technology with solar cells,are expected to promote the green and intelligent innovation in the field of architecture.In this paper,five types of liquid crystal/polymer composite for smart window application were introduced,that is,polymer dispersed liquid crystal,polymer stabilized liquid crystal,a coexistent system of polymer dispersed and stabilized liquid crystal,polymer network liquid crystal,and polymer wall stabilized liquid crystal.Their microstructures and response mechanisms were summarized.The research progress and combined applications with other emerging technologies were reviewed.Finally,the future development trend of smart windows is briefly prospected.