Highly Transparent Phase Change Smart Windows Enabled by Refractive-Index-Matched n-Octadecane@SiO 2 Microcapsule Composites.

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Title: Highly Transparent Phase Change Smart Windows Enabled by Refractive-Index-Matched n-Octadecane@SiO 2 Microcapsule Composites.
Authors: Yang, Fusen1 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Zhixing1,2 (AUTHOR), Feng, Yiyu1 (AUTHOR) fengyiyu@tju.edu.cn, Qin, Mengmeng1,2 (AUTHOR), Feng, Wei1,2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Nanomaterials (2079-4991). Jun2026, Vol. 16 Issue 11, p648. 17p.
Subjects: Microencapsulation, Refractive index, Heat storage, Transparency (Optics), Phase change materials, Octadecane
Abstract: The development of phase change materials (PCMs) for window applications with both high optical transparency and effective temperature regulation is crucial for passive energy saving. However, liquid leakage during phase transition and enhanced interfacial light scattering often cause fluctuations in optical transmittance and deterioration of image clarity. To address these challenges, a highly transparent phase change composite was constructed via a microencapsulation strategy. Submicron core–shell microcapsules were fabricated using n-octadecane as the core and silica as the shell, enabling effective encapsulation of the liquid PCM component. The resulting microcapsules exhibited a high melting enthalpy of 155.3 J g−1. They were subsequently homogeneously dispersed within a refractive-index-matched polymer matrix, mitigating light scattering during phase transition by reducing interfacial refractive index mismatch. The composite exhibited favorable thermal energy storage capability and transmittance performance, with a visible light transmittance of 83.75% and a transmittance fluctuation of only ~5% before and after phase transition. After 100 thermal cycles, the optical attenuation remained as low as 0.35%, demonstrating excellent cycling stability. This work provides a new strategy for balancing optical transparency and phase change function, with potential applications in smart windows and flexible electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Nanomaterials (2079-4991) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Highly Transparent Phase Change Smart Windows Enabled by Refractive-Index-Matched n-Octadecane@SiO 2 Microcapsule Composites.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Fusen%22">Yang, Fusen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Zhixing%22">Zhang, Zhixing</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Feng%2C+Yiyu%22">Feng, Yiyu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> fengyiyu@tju.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qin%2C+Mengmeng%22">Qin, Mengmeng</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Feng%2C+Wei%22">Feng, Wei</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nanomaterials+%282079-4991%29%22">Nanomaterials (2079-4991)</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 16 Issue 11, p648. 17p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microencapsulation%22">Microencapsulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Refractive+index%22">Refractive index</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+storage%22">Heat storage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transparency+%28Optics%29%22">Transparency (Optics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phase+change+materials%22">Phase change materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Octadecane%22">Octadecane</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The development of phase change materials (PCMs) for window applications with both high optical transparency and effective temperature regulation is crucial for passive energy saving. However, liquid leakage during phase transition and enhanced interfacial light scattering often cause fluctuations in optical transmittance and deterioration of image clarity. To address these challenges, a highly transparent phase change composite was constructed via a microencapsulation strategy. Submicron core–shell microcapsules were fabricated using n-octadecane as the core and silica as the shell, enabling effective encapsulation of the liquid PCM component. The resulting microcapsules exhibited a high melting enthalpy of 155.3 J g−1. They were subsequently homogeneously dispersed within a refractive-index-matched polymer matrix, mitigating light scattering during phase transition by reducing interfacial refractive index mismatch. The composite exhibited favorable thermal energy storage capability and transmittance performance, with a visible light transmittance of 83.75% and a transmittance fluctuation of only ~5% before and after phase transition. After 100 thermal cycles, the optical attenuation remained as low as 0.35%, demonstrating excellent cycling stability. This work provides a new strategy for balancing optical transparency and phase change function, with potential applications in smart windows and flexible electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Nanomaterials (2079-4991) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.3390/nano16110648
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 648
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      – SubjectFull: Microencapsulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Refractive index
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heat storage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transparency (Optics)
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      – SubjectFull: Phase change materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Octadecane
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Highly Transparent Phase Change Smart Windows Enabled by Refractive-Index-Matched n-Octadecane@SiO 2 Microcapsule Composites.
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          Name:
            NameFull: Yang, Fusen
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            NameFull: Zhang, Zhixing
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            NameFull: Feng, Yiyu
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            NameFull: Qin, Mengmeng
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            NameFull: Feng, Wei
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Nanomaterials (2079-4991)
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