1. PolyArch project: New Organic
Materials for Architecture
with Prospects to Climate and Energy Management
Dirk J. Broer
Dept. Chemical Engineering & Chemistry
Functional Organic Materials & Devices

2. Basic assumption of PolyArch
• We have developed materials that can do more
than providing a passive function
• We call them ‘Smart Materials’
• We use them already in advanced applications
like large TV screens, 3D television,
telecommunication, healthcare,
military, ……………
• We should also be able
to introduce them in architecture page 2

3. Looking for new application areas:
e.g. responsive functions in buildings
Responding wall textures, energy collecting
windows, sensing paints, switching textiles,
functionalized bricks, self-cleaning
tiles, ..................
On a future towards
•green buildings: energy and water
•indoor well-being and health
•autonomous, pro-active and intelligent but
controlled and adapted to user wishes
page 3

4. Where materials scientists meet
architecture and design
Faculteit Bouwkunde
Poly Arch project
FORM/ad
page 4

5. Smart materials find already their way
to architecture
E.g. low surface energy surfaces for self-
cleaning, non-wetting and non-adhering
page 5

6. and for antireflex, e.g. on solar cells
SolarExcel
cover sheet
DSM KhepriCoat™ coating sunarc®-anti-reflex glass
page 6

7. And a variety of other nano-tech based
functional materials
• anti-static
• conductive/EMI shielding
• anti-fouling
• anti-fogging
• anti-microbial
• lubricious
• anti-abrasion
• anti-corrosion
• barrier
• …………..
• …………..
• ………….. Today’s discussion:
•next generation materials
•with improved functionalities
•with added functionalities
•in the perspective of architecture
page 7

8. Strategies for
daylight control
Chances for liquid crystal technologies
in glass panes:
-Reduced constructional complexity
-Architectural freedom Other smart materials, e.g.:
(Architects are the main decision •hydrogels
•photo- and electrochrome
makers)
•ordered dipoles for
-Simple embedding in the traditional
ferroelectrics
prefabrication processes •hierarchically ordered nano
structured surfaces (gecko’s)
•self-organizing materials for
e.g. self-healing
•…………………………
Tillman Klein Challenge the future 8

9. Architecture’s wish list
O 2 in / C O 2 out
Adaptive daylight structures
How can roofs be designed to meet
lighting requirements mediating
exterior daylight conditions by
Morphogenesis
From brainstorm discussions with Tillmann Klein
page 9
and colleagues / TU Delft

10. How does TU/e research fit in these
concepts ?
Projects on:
•Soft actuators / morphing materials
•Light-responsive materials
•Energy harvesting / sun-light collectors
•Sensors / sensing pigments
•Membrane technology / hierarchical concepts
Royal Danish School of Fine Arts
School of Architecture
page 10

11. Light/heat responsive geometry changes
based on liquid crystal technologies
page 11
Laurens de Haan in collaboration with Mark Warner (Cambridge) & Carlos Sanchez (Zaragoza)

12. Also other groups are working
on similar tech
Ikeda group, Tokyo Univ. Bunning group, Air Force Lab
Technology: Dayton, USA:
•motors •micro air vehicles (high freq)
•moving objects
page 12

13. We can (inkjet) print responsive cilia
page 13
Casper van Oosten

14. And we can create dynamic surface
topologies
Initial
UV
µm
UV remove
µm
page 14
Danqing Liu

15. And E-field responsive geometries
page 15

16. Or responses to other triggers
pH humidity
page 16

17. Controlling light by chiral nematics
Right-handed helix reflects right-
handed circularly polarized light
λo = n.p
p ∆n
∆λ = λo
n
left-handed circularly polarized light
is transmitted
page 17

18. m
Absorbance
0.4 0.4
0.2 0.2
Chiral-nematic network reduces light leakage
-1
0.0 0.0
)
400 450 500 550 600
Wavelength (nm)
Solar
cell
APV
Acol Recovered:
Acol>>APV ~ 40 % of escaping light
12 % more light on solar
transmitted
€ € col<< € € PV cell
reflected
page 18
Michael Debije, Shufen Tsoi, Paul Verbunt, Ties de Jong, Dick de Boer, Cees Bastiaansen

19. Color changing chiral nematic sensors
λo = n.p
page 19

20. Example: a chiral nematic CO2 sensor
Taddol-diamine complex
CO2 CO2
decomplexation and shift CO2
in helical twisting power
color shift
page 20
Y. Han, K. Pacheco, C.W. M. Bastiaansen and R.P. Sijbesma

21. Sensing pigments
• Cholesteric pigments are known
• Wacker Chemie, Univ. Bayreuth, BASF,
Chelix, ……)
Univ. Bayreuth
• Security Inks (H.-W. Schmidt et
• Special effect coatings BASF
• Cosmetics
• Opportunity:
We can develop responsive pigments Architect’s wish list:
for e.g. responsive paints.
Interact with:
• Light (sunlight, LED illumination)
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Presence/absence of gases Chelix
• (security inks)
Responsive IR reflectors for climate
control
page 21

22. Membranes and (nano)porous systems
3 µm 1 µm
400 nm 90 nm
3 nm
1 nm
page 22

23. Switchable membranes (1)
30-10-2009
pH or temperature
page 23

24. Switchable membranes (2)
λ < 400 nm
∆
0.9 nm 0.55nm dye uptake (5’)
planar aligned sample
cis azo trans azo
fast diffusion slow diffusion
of Nile Blue A of Nile Blue A hν
peristaltic
gas transport page 24

25. Challenges & Exploitation
Challenges and new projects:
• Solar tracking lenses and light concentrators
• Other trigger principles
• New molecules, e.g. to replace azo for improved stability
• Control over complex morphing figures
• Responsive fibers and fabrics (QM)
• Energy harvesting actuators: breeze, vibration
Exploitation:
• Joint projects with architectural world (Eindhoven,
Delft, Copenhagen) for a variety of applications
• Project with Philips, Sioen for large area illumination
• Micro-optics for solar energy (Solarexcel)
• Smart windows / climate control (PEER+)
• Integrated energy harvesting constructs for
autonomous, wireless energy generation
page 25

26. Peerplus a TU/e start-up
http://www.peerplus.nl
30-10-2009 page 26

27. Architecture’s wish list
1.0
Emission (mWnm )
0.8
0.8
Absorbance
0.6
0.6
0.4 0.4
0.2 0.2
O 2 in / C O 2 out
-1
0.0 0.0
400 450 500 550 600
Wavelength (nm)
Adaptive daylight structures
How can roofs be designed to meet
lighting requirements mediating
exterior daylight conditions by
Morphogenesis
page 27

28. Acknowledgment
TU/e - SFDgroup EU FP7
Marie Curie Training Network
Hierarchy
page 28