Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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DS: Fachverband Dünne Schichten

DS 16: Thin Film Application

DS 16.9: Talk

Thursday, March 12, 2026, 12:00–12:15, REC/C213

Use of hybrid electrochromic devices for dynamic solar control in buildings — •Eleftheria Merkoulidi and George Syrrokostas — Solar Energy Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Patras, Rion, Greece

Nowadays, the three main sectors that consume a lot of primary energy are: transport, industry, and buildings. Especially in the EU during 2023, buildings were responsible for 40% of total energy consumption, for approximately 50% of all-natural gas use, and a large portion of this energy (80%) is dedicated specifically to heating, cooling, and hot water supply for occupants. Therefore, improving the energy efficiency of buildings is critical. One effective way to improve energy efficiency is by controlling the significant energy losses (up to 60%) that occur through windows. These losses are caused by heat transfer mechanisms (conduction, convection, and radiation), as well as air leakage. A promising technological solution involves the use of adaptive chromogenic windows, such as electrochromic smart windows (ECWs). They can improve the energy efficiency of a building by modulating the sunlight and solar heat entering a building in real time, by changing their appearance (from transparent to opaque), under an applied electric field. In the present study, a way to improve their optical performance is investigated, by using a cobalt based redox electrolyte as a novel alternative to other redox couples used so far, with promising results.

Keywords: electrochromic; tungsten oxide thin films; cobalt redox electrolyte; energy saving; buildings