Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211

Intelligent window using a hydrogel layer for

energy efficiency
Haruo Watanabe*
Affinity Co., Ltd. Numabukuro 4-12-2, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 165, Japan

Abstract

The intelligent window is a thermotropic glazing based on the sealed laminate of a new type
of intelligent material, a highly viscous polymer aqueous solution or hydrogel, which consists
mainly of water, a water-soluble polymer with hydrophobic groups, an amphipathic molecule
and sodium chloride. The hydrogel was developed after conducting fundamental studies on
hydrophobic bonding. The amphipathic molecule enables autonomously reversible light ad-
justment while retaining its homogeneity. In addition, a cellulose derivative is used selectively in
the water-soluble polymer with hydrophobic groups, by which problems such as lack of
durability, toxicity and high cost, which had previously prevented the commercialization of the
intelligent window have been resolved. Peripheral technologies were also established for sealing
and lamination, so that the panel type, autonomously responsive, light adjustment window, the
Affinity Intelligent Window (AIW) can be produced with a large area of 1 m2 with the
properties required for practical use. ( 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Intelligent window; Intelligent material; Hydrogel; Hydrophobic bonding; Cellulose

derivative; Amphipathic molecule; Water

1. Introduction

Recently, the development of a system [1] enabling the glass of the window, an
aperture structural member, to display heat insulation and light shielding effects
has been expected to establish a pleasant living environment and achieve energy

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 81 3 5380 0811; fax: 81 3 5380 0812.

0927-0248/98/$19.00 ( 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

PII S 0 9 2 7 - 0 2 4 8 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 0 7 2 - 5
204 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211

conservation at the same time. In particular, an autonomously responsive type of light

adjustment window system is required that can adjust light transmission by reversibly
changing the light shielding function in winter, summer, and on bright and cloudy
days. Such a window system would transmit direct sunlight in winter to alleviate the
interior heating load but shield off direct sunlight to alleviate the cooling load in
summer, simultaneously enabling pleasant living and energy conservation. The types
of smart windows with light adjustment function are generally based on the electro-
chromic type or other types using a wired electric control system and the auton-
omously responsive type without wire. The latter is a thermally sensitive system that
achieves light adjustment by relying on the temperature, and research is presently in
progress on laminated glass using hydrogel [2,3] or polymer blend [4] and on a glass
coated with a thin film of vanadium oxide [5,6]. The hydrogel type of glass features an
excellent energy conservation property, but previously failed to display the necessary,
homogeneously reversible light adjustment characteristic.

2. Hydrogel requirements and potentialities

The present research to develop the light adjustment window was based on research
and studies of the fundamental properties of hydrogels [7—10]. The special type of
hydrogel developed this time is an intelligent material that undergoes phase transition
with homogeneous reversibility by utilizing solar energy and sensing environmental
temperature changes. The window panel uses this intelligent material, so is called the
affinity intelligent window (AIW).
AIW features a number of distinct characteristics, including (1) reversible change
with homogeneous stability, (2) a wide range of the light shielding property, (3) flexible
setting of the start-up temperature, (4) excellent weatherability, (5) free of haze and
coloring under normal state, (6) availability in a large area, (7) non-toxicity producible
at a low cost, and (8) low cost. Items 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be described later.
The haze accentuates the presence of the glass, and with slant perspective and
curved glasses, the haze is accentuated and the transmittivity impaired. Coloration
impairs the sense of natural coloration with natural light as well as the sense of
openness. Availability of the glass in large areas is essential when used in buildings.
Manufacture of AIW is simply a process of laminating hydrogel on a glass pane, and
AIW can be produced up to the size of ordinary glass panes. The manufacturing cost
is low and the panel structure simple, making AIW quite practical. The main raw
material of the hydrogel is water, and other raw materials are also available at a low
cost, so no massive, expensive manufacturing facility, equipment or clean room are
necessary, and the manufacturing plant can be constructed with a relatively small
capital investment. In addition, the raw materials are entirely non-toxic, and if AIW is
damaged inadvertently, it is not scattered about since hydrogel is highly viscous.
Another distinct advantage is that AIW can be installed with ease since it does not
require an electric control system like most of its counterparts.
When used at places such as the south side of a building where light transmittivity is
highly desirable, the window may be divided, for example, into an upper side
 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211 205

consisting of AIW and a lower side consisting of a window using ordinary glass, by
which a sense of openness and a penthouse-roof effect can be enjoyed. In addition, the
appearance which varies with changes in the environmental temperature is also
aesthetic and ideal for buildings placing emphasis on the art of design. Naturally,
using a window system consisting of insulating glass is ideal to provide pleasant living
and simultaneously enable energy conservation in both winter and summer, which
suggests new concepts for roofs, walls and illumination.

3. Structure

Fig. 1 shows the sectional structure of AIW. The simple laminated structure
consists of hydrogel laminated on a conventional type of substrate sheet glass, and
sealed with a composite structure using materials which act to suppress water
vaporization. A spacer is preferably used inside as well as at the sealing part, and the
substrate is sheet glass, not a plastic sheet that allows permeation of water molecules.
The thickness of the hydrogel should be between 0.05 and 2 mm. As shown in Fig. 1,
the transparency at low temperature is water-clear, whereas the optical scattering at
a high temperature causes the glass to be paper-white. Fig. 2 shows the AIW in these
two states. Hydrogel is highly viscous, so the properties are not affected by convection
due to temperature differences.

4. Conceptual model of phase transition

The phenomenon of aggregation of hydrogel has long been known in physics and
chemistry. However, a phase separation occurs simultaneously with aggregation
causing heterogenity, so disparities are generated to obstruct stable reversibility.
Achieving uniform reversible changes in a wide-area panel with stability is normally
quite difficult, and the phase transition of hydrogel was no exception.

Fig. 1. The structure of AIW and two states with homogeneous reversibility between water-clear and
paper-white.
206 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211

Fig. 2. The AIW was changed and partially shielded by solar energy. The size was A4.

Fig. 3. The concept model of phase transition from the isotropic aqueous solution to the hydrogel with
phase stability.

The hydrogel used in AIW consists primarily of water and other materials such as
a water-soluble polymer with hydrophobic groups, an amphipathic molecule and
sodium chloride. Fig. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of the hydrogel phase transition.
At low temperature, the isotropic aqueous solution is dissolved homogeneously, with
the water-soluble polymer and amphipathic molecules dissolved on the molecular
level due to hydration of the hydrophilic groups, so that a water-clear state is
achieved. Conversely, at high temperature, the hydrophobic groups of the water-
soluble polymer and the amphipathic molecules undergo hydrophobic bonding with
the structural change in the water component, by which the molecules are aggregated
due to the weak bridging structure inside and between the molecules, so that a phase
 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211 207

transition to the gel state occurs. Light scattering is caused by the difference in the
refractive indices of the molecule aggregation domain and free water domain. As
shown in the diagram, in this gel state, the amphipathic molecules inside the polymer
aggregates undergo hydrophobic bonding together with the water molecules and are
converted into a conjugate aggregate body. The resultant aggregate structure has an
appropriate water content, but the free water is separated microscopically and
retained inside the aggregate network, providing a homogeneous macrostructure
without undergoing phase separation. The sodium chloride promotes separation of
the free water, so the phase transition commencement temperature could be control-
led with the amount of sodium chloride added.

5. Optical characteristics and durability

Optical characteristics and durability, together with stable phase transition, are
vital for the commercialization of AIW. Figs. 4 and 5 show the transmittance spectra
and reflectance spectra. Hydrogel consists of a cellulose derivative (5 parts), am-
phipathic molecule (1 part), and 5% sodium chloride aqueous solution (9 parts). The
hydrogel started to become cloudy at 28°C and achieved an adequate, slightly opaque,
light-shielding state at 32°C. The rising of clouding could be controlled within a broad
range from room temperature to about 60°C by changing the hydrogel composition.
It was also possible to modify the rate of change with temperature. The test panels
were prepared by laminating hydrogel on a glass substrate 3 mm thick, and the

Fig. 4. The transmittance spectra of a transparent state (a-1, b-1, c-1) and scattering state (a-2, b-2, c-2),
(a) 0.25 mm, (b) 0.5 mm, and (c) 1.0 mm substrates: 3 mm FG.
208 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211

Fig. 5. The reflectance spectra of a transparent state (a-1, b-1, c-1) and scattering state (a-2, b-2, c-2), (a)
0.25 mm, (b) 0.5 mm, and (c) 1.0 mm substrates: 3 mm FG.

hydrogel thickness was (a) 0.25 mm, (b) 0.5 mm, and (c) 1.0 mm. Measurements were
performed using a Hitachi U-4000 spectrophotometer that is suitable for measuring
scattered light, and measurements were performed by positioning the central part of
the panel near the spherical integrating window of the spectrophotometer. As a result,
an almost uniform panel cut-off was possible in the light-scattered state without
relying on the wavelength. The return to the state of transparency was confirmed to be
rapid and complete with an analogous waveform. The transmittance was about 10%,
as long as the thickness was over 0.5 mm, and the reflectance of over 40% was
achieved in the visible light domain, which was improved further with a thickness of
1 mm. This reversible response speed is governed by the thermal capacity of the glass
substrate, so there was no rapid change. However, when used in architectural space,
a rapid change invites a sense of unpleasantness, so a slow change reflecting a sense of
naturalness is normally desirable.
Durability involves light durability and heat durability. The light durability was
measured using a metal weather meter made by Dai Nippon Plastic Co., Ltd. which
irradiates only ultraviolet and visible light. This test equipment, compared with the
sunshine weather meter or the xenon weather meter, irradiates light energy that is
30—50 times more intense on the specimen surface, so it has a considerable promo-
tional effect. The operating conditions consisted of a cycle of light energy intensity of
80 mW/cm2, and lamp irradiation of roughly 500 h at 63°C. Dew exposure tests
were conducted on a roof in Tokyo for two years. The tests showed that it would
be desirable to eliminate wavelengths shorter than 330 nm to suppress changes
 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211 209

completely, since the hydrogel maximum absorbed wavelength is less than 300 nm
and the ultraviolet radiation is quite intense and successful. In the heat durability test,
the dual sealing as Fig. 1, butyl sealant and photosetting or thermosetting adhesive
resin, showed that no yellowing was caused through thermal deterioration in
60°C/5000 h tests as well as 80°C/1000 h tests, nor were air bubbles generated due to
water evaporation. Very small air bubbles were generated, but were limited to
different areas from the places of laminated glass dewing, so there was no practical
problem. In addition, no problems were recognized in 200 cycles of tests from !20°C
to 80°C, as well as in boiling tests conducted for 2 h. The hydrogel reversible change is
physically based on the phase transition, so the durability of AIW relies on the
durabilities of the respective molecules.

6. Large-area intelligent windows

Figs. 6 and 7 show a 1 m2 AIW fabricated based on the results of these studies. The
AIW demonstrated excellent phase transition from a water-clear state to paper-white
state due to solar energy, and the reversible change occurred repeatedly. The shadow

Fig. 6. The AIW appeared in the water-clear state without haze and color. The size was a square meter.
210 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211

Fig. 7. The AIW changed to the paper-white state with enough shadow by solar energy. The size was
a square meter.

generated by the phase transition was distinct as shown by the photograph. There was
also no special problem with hydrogel downflow due to gravitation when left in
a vertical position.
The AIW was used experimentally in a new environmentally-compatible type of
building to be completed in Tokyo in 1997, while research is in progress to develop
production technologies for the intelligent window.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr. S. Tanemura of NIRIN/MITI for helpful
discussions.

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 H. Watanabe/Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 54 (1998) 203—211 211

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