Active and passive modulation of solar light transmittance in a uniquely multifunctional dual-band single molecule for smart window applications

Functional materials may change color by heat and electricity separately or simultaneously in smart windows.These materials have not only demonstrated remarkable potential in the modulation of solar radiation but are also leading to the development of indoor environments that are more comfortable and conducive to improving individuals'quality of life.Unfortunately,dual-responsive materials have not received ample research attention due to economic and technological challenges.As a consequence,the broader utilization of smart windows faces hindrances.To address this new generational multistimulus responsive chromic materials,our group has adopted a developmental strategy to create a poly(NIPAM)n-HV as a switchable material by anchoring active viologen(HV)onto a phase-changing poly(NIPAM)n-based smart material for better utility and activity.These constructed smart windows facilitate individualistic reversible switching,from a highly transparent state to an opaque state(thermochromic)and a red state(electrochromic),as well as facilitate a simultaneous dual-stimuli response reversible switching from a clear transparent state to a fully opaque(thermochromic)and orange(electrochromic)states.Absolute privacy can be attained in smart windows designed for exclusive settings by achieving zero transmittance.Each unique chromic mode operates independently and modulates visible and near-infrared(NIR)light in a distinct manner.Hence,these smart windows with thermal and electric dual-stimuli responsiveness demonstrate remarkable heat regulation capabilities,rendering them highly attractive for applications in building facades,energy harvesting,privacy protection,and color display.

Semitransparent organic photovoltaics enabled by transparent p-type inorganic semiconductor and near-infrared acceptor

Semitransparent organic photovoltaics(STOPVs)have gained wide attention owing to their promising applications in building-integrated photovoltaics,agrivoltaics,and floating photovoltaics.Organic semiconductors with high charge carrier mobility usually have planar and conjugated structures,thereby showing strong absorption in visible region.In this work,a new concept of incorporating transparent inorganic semiconductors is proposed for high-performance STOPVs.Copper(I)thiocyanate(CuSCN)is a visible-transparent inorganic semiconductor with an ionization potential of 5.45 eV and high hole mobility.The transparency of CuSCN benefits high average visible transmittance(AVT)of STOPVs.The energy levels of CuSCN as donor match those of near-infrared small molecule acceptor BTP-eC9,and the formed heterojunction exhibits an ability of exciton dissociation.High mobility of CuSCN contributes to a more favorable charge transport channel and suppresses charge recombination.The control STOPVs based on PM6/BTP-eC9 exhibit an AVT of 19.0%with a power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 12.7%.Partial replacement of PM6 with CuSCN leads to a 63%increase in transmittance,resulting in a higher AVT of 30.9%and a comparable PCE of 10.8%.

Rheological Properties of Casting Solutions for Starch Edible Films Production

Rheological properties of corn starch and sodium alginate blend solutions have been measured at different polymer ratios in the temperature range from 303 to 343 K bya R/S Brook field rheometer with аcoaxial cylinder measuring unit. Dynamic viscosity of blends has been shown to decrease with shear rate increase and to increase with sodium alginate content increase. The influence of shear rate on activation energy of viscous flow depends on sodium alginate content and is different for below and over 5% (mass) content. Applicability of Ostwald-de-Waele, Herschel-Bulkley, Bingham and Casson models for the description of CS:SA blend solutions flow has been analyzed. Rheological properties of CS:SA blend solutions allow one to look at them as an alternative to starch solutions for edible films casting and production by dry method.

Hydrolysis Lignin as a Sorbent and Basis for Solid Composite Biofuel

New powdered sorbent Lignosorb based on the hydrophobized hydrolysis lignin has been developed at the Belarusian State University. Hydrolysis lignin is a commercial waste product of biomass processing in the hydrolysis production of ethanol. In spite of the various proposals for hydrolysis lignin usage, the wide application has not found yet. Special area of hydrophobized hydrolysis lignin usage as a sorbent for oil spills removal and oil products waste recovery is discussed. Lignosorb, thanks to the rather high bulk density, can be applied manually or mechanically by conventional sprayers. It does not sink after oil adsorption and transforms liquid oil film on the water surface into the solid mass. The solid product is a complete mass and is easily collected from the surface of water. Lignosorb when blended with oil products waste in the volume forms the granular free-running product. The rheological properties of the Lignosorb suspensions in oil products at different sorbent to oil product ratio have been estimated. Saturated by different oil products Lignosorb one can granulate or pellet and utilize as a composite solid fuel including the co-firing regime of combustion. It has the higher heating value of 32.1 - 38.8 MJ/kg while the coal has 20.9 - 30.1 MJ/kg. It has been shown that composite fuel burning has less longstanding inflammation stage, more long stable burning stage and less longstanding phase of smoldering in the comparison to wood and Lignosorb burning.

Bicomponent Solutions of Food Polysaccharide and Edible Films on Their Basis

The study of the rheological properties of aqueous solutions of corn starch (CS) blends with sodium alginate (SA) and agar-agar (AA) as well as the physical and mechanical properties of bicomponent films on their basis has been carried out. The data show that adding of both polymers to starch solution causes an increase in viscosity which is higher in the case of SA. Activation energy for viscosity flow of solutions of CS blended with SA has minimum value at CS:SA ratio = 98:2. The above mentioned dependence is not typical for AA, as flow activation energy in this case raises steadily with the growth of AA content in the solution, like viscosity of the CS:AA. The extreme behavior of polymer blends with low content of one of the polymers is described in terms of mutual solubility or thermodynamic compatibility. There is a tendency that mechanical properties and water solubility increase with the increasing of SA and AA polymers in corn starch matrix. Obtained data evidence the benefits of bicomponent films production instead of starch-based films.

Cationic Polymerization of Isobutylene and C4 Mixed Feed Using Complexes of Lewis Acids with Ethers: A Comparative Study

The cationic polymerization of C4 mixed feed and isobutylene co-initiated by AlCl3xOiPr2,iBuAlC12xnOiPr2, and [emim]Cl- FeCl3xnOiPr2 ([emim]Cl: 1 -ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) has been investigated. AlCl3xOiPr2 co-initiated cationic polymerization of C4 mixed feed proceeds at a lower rate than polymerization of isobutylene affording polymers with higher molecular weight. Complexes of iBuAlCh with di isopropyl ether of different compositions are more suitable co-initiators than AlCl3xOiPr2 for the synthesis of highly reactive polyisobutylene (HR PIB) from C4 mixed feed due to their higher activity in the polymerization as well as possibility to prepare polyisobutylenes with lower molecular weight and higher content of exo-olefin end groups. However, iBuA1C12 needs activating via addition of external water (initiator) and/or interaction with salts hydrates in order to increase the reaction rate and the saturated monomer conversion.[Emim]Cl-FeC13/iPr2O is a quite promising catalyst for the preparation of HR PIB with high exo-olefin end group content (> 80%) and relatively low polydispersity (Mw/Mn < 2.8) via cationic polymerization of C4 mixed feed. The sonication of reaction mixture in case of using [emim]Cl-FeCh allowed increasing the reaction rate and decreasing the molecular weight.