Scientists make new coating to turn windows into energy-saving shield

Researchers from Rice University, in collaboration with teams from China, Arizona State University, Cornell University, and the University of Toronto, have developed a novel glass coating that improves energy efficiency by reducing heat loss through windows. This new coating, composed of boron nitride doped with carbon, reflects heat, resists ultraviolet light, moisture, and temperature fluctuations, and is also scratch-resistant. The coating lowers emissivity significantly compared to pure boron nitride or traditional low-emissivity (low-E) coatings, which typically degrade under temperature and humidity changes and are applied only on the inner side of windows. The coating is produced using pulsed laser deposition at room temperature, a process that is less energy-intensive than conventional high-temperature methods. Boron nitride, the primary material used, is less costly than silver or indium tin oxide commonly found in existing low-E coatings. The researchers highlight that this method could be adapted for various substrates, including polymers and textiles, and scaled commercially using techniques like roll