Table Of Content© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
GREEN
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Solutions for Sustainability and
Energy in the Built Environment
Geoffrey B. Smith
Claes G. Granqvist
Boca Raton London New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Smith, Geoffrey B. (Geoffrey Burton)
Green nanotechnology : solutions for sustainability and energy in the built
environment / authors, Geoffrey B. Smith and Claes-Goran S. Granqvist.
p. cm.
“A CRC title.”
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4200-8532-7 (alk. paper)
1. Sustainable buildings--Design and construction. 2. Nanotechnology. 3.
Buildings--Electric equipment. 4. Buildings--Energy conservation. 5. Sustainable
construction. 6. Electronic apparatus and appliances. I. Granqvist, Claes G. II. Title.
TH880.S65 2010
690.028’6--dc22 2010007968
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© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
Contents
Preface xiii
Chapter 1 Green Nanotechnology:
Introduction and Invitation 1
1.1 What Is Nanotechnology? 1
1.2 What Is Green Nanotechnology? 4
1.3 Some Basic Issues in Nanoscience 5
1.4 Nanoscience, Dimensionality, and Thin Films 1 1
1.5 Outdoing Nature in Exploiting Complexity 12
1.6 Energy Supply and Demand 1 4
1.7 Energy and Development 2 0
References 21
Chapter 2 In Harmony with the Environment:
Nature’s Energy Flows and Desired Materials
Properties 2 5
2.1 Global Energy Flows 2 6
2.2 Radiation in Our Ambience: An Overview 2 8
2.3 Interaction between Radiation and Materials 3 3
2.3.1 Fundamentals Based on Energy
Conservation 3 3
2.3.2 Directionality and Polarization
Dependence 3 4
2.4 Beam and Diffuse Radiation 3 6
2.4.1 General Considerations 3 6
2.4.2 Energy Flows in Diffuse and Nonparallel
Radiation Beams 3 7
v
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vi Contents
2.5 Hemispherical Absorptance 4 2
2.6 Solar and Daylighting Performance Parameters 4 4
2.7 Thermal Radiation and Spectral Properties of the
Atmosphere 4 5
2.7.1 Blackbody Emittance 4 6
2.7.2 The Sky Window 47
2.8 Dynamical Environmental Properties 5 0
2.8.1 General Considerations 5 0
2.8.2 Solar Energy and Daylight Dynamics:
The Sun’s Path 5 1
2.9 Materials for Optimized Use of the Spectral,
Directional, and Dynamical Properties of Solar
Energy and Sky Radiation 5 3
2.9.1 Opaque Materials 5 5
2.9.2 Transparent Materials 5 7
2.9.3 Other Generic Classes of Optical
Properties for Radiation Control 5 8
2.10 Thermal and Density Gradients in the
Atmosphere and Oceans 6 0
2.11 Performance of Energy Systems:
Thermodynamics and Value 61
References 64
Chapter 3 Optical Materials Science for Green
Nanotechnology: The Basics 6 7
3.1 Light and Nanostructures 6 9
3.1.1 Local Fields and Far Fields 6 9
3.1.2 Refractive Index and Absorption
Coefficient 7 0
3.2 Spectral Properties of Uniform Materials 7 3
3.2.1 Insulators and Liquids 7 4
3.2.2 Conductors, Semiconductors, and
Superconductors 7 5
3.2.3 Chromogenic Materials 7 6
3.3 Plasmonic Materials in General 77
3.4 Materials for Electron-Based Plasmonics:
Mirrors for Visible and Infrared Light 7 9
© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
Contents vii
3.5 Ionic-Based Materials with Narrow-Band
Infrared Properties 8 5
3.5.1 Plasmonics Once Again 8 5
3.5.2 Phonon Absorption 8 7
3.5.3 Infrared Transparency 8 8
3.6 Generic Classes of Spectrally Selective
Materials 8 8
3.7 Thin Films for Controlling Spectral Properties
and Local Light Intensities 89
3.8 Nanoparticle Optics 9 2
3.8.1 Transparent and Translucent Materials 9 2
3.8.2 Some Basic Models 9 4
3.9 Optical Homogenization of Nanocomposites 9 8
3.9.1 Models for Particle- and Inclusion-
Based Composites 9 9
3.9.2 Invisibility, Effective Medium Models,
and Critical Percolation 100
3.9.3 Core-Shell Random Unit Cells and
Actual Core-Shell Particles 104
3.10 Surface Plasmon Resonances in Films,
Particles, and “Rectennas” 107
3.11 Temporary “Storage” of Light at Resonances
and in Evanescent Fields 111
3.11.1 General Considerations 111
3.11.2 Evanescent Optical Fields and How
They Can Be Used 113
References 116
Chapter 4 Visual Indoors–Outdoors Contact and
Daylighting: Windows 123
4.1 General Introduction 124
4.1.1 Strategies for Energy Efficiency 125
4.1.2 Uncoated Glass and Plastic Foil 126
4.2 Spectral Selectivity: The Energy Efficiency That
Is Possible 128
4.3 Spectral Selectivity of Noble-Metal-Based Films 132
4.3.1 Thin Metal Films Are Not Bulk-Like 133
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viii Contents
4.3.2 Very Thin Metal Films Are
Nanomaterials 134
4.3.3 Toward a Quantitative Theoretical Model
for the Optical Properties 137
4.3.4 Multilayer Films for Spectrally Selective
Windows 141
4.4 Spectral Selectivity of Oxide-Semiconductor-
Based Films 145
4.4.1 Some Characteristic Properties 147
4.4.2 Typical Nanostructures of ITO Films 148
4.4.3 Theoretical Models for the Optical and
Electrical Properties of ITO Films 151
4.4.4 Computed Optical Properties 154
4.5 Spectral Selectivity: Novel Developments for
Films and Foils 156
4.5.1 Silver-Based Nanowire Meshes 156
4.5.2 Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene 158
4.5.3 Foils with Conducting Nanoparticles 160
4.5.4 “Holey” Metal Films 161
4.5.5 Photonic Crystals 162
4.6 Optimized Angular Properties: The Energy
Efficiency That Is Possible 163
4.7 Angular Selectivity of Films with Inclined
Columnar Nanostructures 166
4.8 Chromogenics: The Energy Efficiency That Is
Possible 167
4.9 Photochromics 175
4.10 Thermochromics 177
4.10.1 Metal-Insulator Transition and Its
Nanofeatures in VO 178
2
4.10.2 Thermochromism in VO -Based Films,
2
and How to Adjust the Metal-Insulator
Transition 179
4.10.3 How to Enhance the Luminous
Transmittance in VO 183
2
4.11 Electrochromics 187
4.11.1 How Do Electrochromic Devices Work? 188
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Contents ix
4.11.2 Facile Ion Movement Due to Favorable
Nanostructures 190
4.11.3 What Causes the Optical Absorption? 193
4.11.4 Some Device Properties 193
4.11.5 Alternative Electrochromic Devices 196
References 199
Chapter 5 Electric Lighting and Daylighting: Luminaires 207
5.1 Lighting: Past, Present, and Future 208
5.2 Daylighting Technology: The “Cool” Option 212
5.2.1 Roof Glazing and Skylights 213
5.2.2 Mirror Light Pipes 216
5.2.3 Daylight Redirecting Structures for
Façades 221
5.3 Dielectric Mirrors Based on Nanostructure 224
5.4 Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Daylighting
and Solar Power 228
5.4.1 Devices for Generating Daylight-Like
Radiation 228
5.4.2 Devices with Solar Cells and Mirrors 233
5.4.3 Light Trapping in Light Guides: Getting
It All Out 233
5.5 Light-Diffusing Transmitting Materials 236
5.5.1 Polymer Diffusers 237
5.5.2 End-Lit Long Continuous Light Sources 240
5.5.3 Light Extraction from Light Pipes and in
LCD Displays 244
5.6 Advanced Electronic Lighting Concepts 245
5.6.1 Semiconductor Light-Emitting Diodes 246
5.6.2 Organic Light-Emitting Diodes 249
5.6.3 Nanostructures for Improved LED
Performance 250
5.6.4 Emerging Lamp Technologies 254
5.6.5 Concluding Remarks 255
References 256
© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
x Contents
Chapter 6 Heat and Electricity: Solar Collectors and
Solar Cells 261
6.1 Solar Thermal Materials and Devices 261
6.1.1 Spectral Selectivity and Its Importance 263
6.1.2 Principles for Spectral Selectivity 265
6.1.3 Selectively Solar-Absorbing
Coatings Based on Nanoparticles:
Some Practical Examples 269
6.1.4 Colored Absorbers and Paints:
Novel Developments 277
6.2 Photovoltaic Materials and Devices 279
6.2.1 Technology Overview 281
6.2.2 Nanofeatures for Boosting the Efficiency
of Silicon-Based Solar Cells 284
6.2.3 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells 288
6.2.4 Organic Solar Cells 292
References 297
Chapter 7 Coolness: High-Albedo Surfaces and Sky
Cooling Devices 303
7.1 Two Cooling Strategies 305
7.1.1 High-Albedo Surfaces 305
7.1.2 Sky Cooling 307
7.2 City Heating, Global Cooling, and Summer
Blackouts 307
7.2.1 Urban Heat Islands 307
7.2.2 Global Cooling by Increased Albedo 310
7.2.3 Avoiding Summer Blackouts 312
7.3 High-Albedo Paints for Cool Buildings 313
7.3.1 How Cool Can a Solar Exposed Roof
Get? 314
7.3.2 Colored Paints with High Solar
Reflectance 318
7.3.3 Mechanisms and Nanostructures for
Colored “Cool” Paints 319
7.4 Sky Cooling to Subambient Temperatures 322
7.4.1 Sky Radiance 324
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Contents xi
7.4.2 Spectral Selectivity and Sky Cooling:
Idealized Surfaces 327
7.4.3 Calculated Cooling for Ideal and
Practical Materials 329
7.4.4 Some Practical Surfaces for Sky
Cooling: Bulk-Type Solids 332
7.4.5 Nanotechnology for Optimum Sky
Radiators: Computed and Measured
Data 332
7.4.6 Practical Sky Cooling: Systems and
Data 337
7.4.7 Amplifying Sky Cooling with Heat
Mirrors 342
7.4.8 Impact of Solar Irradiance on Sky
Cooling 345
7.5 Water Condensation Using Sky Cooling 346
7.6 A Role for Cooling and Waste Heat in Electric
Power Generation 348
7.7 Electronic Cooling and Nanotechnology 350
7.8 Whither Cooling? 353
7.8.1 Some Environmental and
Health-Related Benefits 353
7.8.2 Cooling Plus 353
References 354
Chapter 8 Supporting Nanotechnologies: Air Sensing and
Cleaning, Thermal Insulation, and Electrical
Storage 361
8.1 Air Quality and Air Sensing 361
8.1.1 The Sick Building Syndrome 361
8.1.2 Gas Sensing with Nanoporous Metal
Oxides: General 363
8.1.3 Gas Sensing with Nanoporous Metal
Oxides: Illustrative Examples 365
8.2 Photocatalysis for Cleaning 368
8.2.1 General 368
8.2.2 Self-Cleaning Surfaces 372
8.2.3 Air Purification 377
© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
