January 2, 2025

Francisco Ramírez Discusses Smart Windows Technology Using Nanometric Vanadium Dioxide

The global climate emergency has scientists worldwide striving to develop sustainable solutions to mitigate rising temperatures and their impact on humanity. Among the most innovative fields in this pursuit is the use of nanotechnology to create smart materials that help combat the effects of global warming.

Divergentes recently interviewed Francisco Ramírez, PhD in Mechanical Engineering and professor at the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, about his groundbreaking work in this area.

The Inspiration Behind the Technology

Dr. Ramírez explained that the inspiration for this technology comes from the adaptive capacity of nature and humans, who “self-regulate” to adjust to adverse conditions. Applying this principle, Ramírez designed materials—specifically windows—by blending molecules at the nanoscale to produce dynamic materials that respond differently to varying levels of photonic energy.

“This manipulation of light at the nanoscale to interact and alter its properties is what we call nanophotonics,” he explained.

How Do Smart Windows Work?

Dr. Ramírez identified vanadium dioxide as a particularly promising material for creating nanophotonic windows.

“The change in this element occurs in a spectrum we call near-infrared, which is radiation we can’t see but perceive as heat. By inducing this phase change… when it’s hot, the material reflects solar radiation in the form of heat but allows visible radiation to pass through, enabling us to see.”

Ramírez elaborated further:
“We’ve developed a window that remains transparent year-round. During winter, it lets heat into your home. In summer, it reflects thermal solar radiation while still allowing visible sunlight to pass through, so you don’t notice a change in appearance, but you do experience less heat in your room.”

This innovative approach, he concluded, holds enormous potential for improving energy efficiency in homes and buildings.

Courtesy of CNN.