Development of lightweight energy-saving glass and its near-field electromagnetic analysis.

This work developed a type of energy-saving glass for regions undergoing sun glare and high temperature. Its functions cost zero energy and negligible weight increment (1.81 g/m2). The key to its success was two-dimensionally periodic nanostructures composed of single material. These nanostructures were arranged in a hexagonal way and added on a commonly-seen glass substrate. The area of these structures was scalable, and their fabrication was cost-effective using nanoimprint lithography technology. The glass was able to exhibit broadband wavelength-selective transmittance. Measured spectra confirmed transparency in the visible and approximate opaqueness in the near-infrared regions. The power for indoor illumination and air conditioner could thus be simultaneously saved. This work also utilized numerical modeling to obtain electromagnetic field patterns in the near-field. The patterns explained the broadband wavelength-selectivity and influences from an adhesive layer existing in real samples. • An energy-saving glass was elaborately designed and experimentally verified. • Area was scalable and mass fabrication was feasible using nanoimprint lithography. • Functions of the glass took zero energy and only 1.81 g/m2 weight increment. • Transmittance in UV and near-IR was suppressed, while transparency in VIS was kept. • Wavelength-selectivity was explained via near-field electromagnetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]