Copolymer solution-based “smart window”

The authors report the design of a prototype smart window based on the phenomenon of the thermally induced aggregation of triblock copolymer poly (ethylene oxide)–poly (propylene oxide)–poly (ethylene oxide) (EPE). Fluorescein isothiocyanate was used to label EPE and study aggregation phenomenon at different temperatures. The cloud point could be tuned by mixing EPE with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and varying the concentration of the latter. The light transmittance at different temperatures was studied as a function of SDS concentration.