The new technique allows the creation of conductive glass that transmits even more light than ordinary

Canadian scientists from the University of British Columbia have created a method of applying a metal coating to glass , increasing its ability to transmit light by 10%. This discovery brings us closer to a future in which “smart” windows with variable characteristics appear, and window panes can be used as electronic devices.

According to the University professor, Kenneth Chau, the first thing that immediately becomes possible after the invention of this technology is the adjustment of the glass to reflect or absorb heat, depending on the needs of people using a building with such windows.

“This discovery is interesting in that it is counterintuitive - it runs counter to the idea that metals should be opaque,” ​​says Chau. - It seems to me that one of the most important consequences of this study is the potential for creating “smart” windows. When we watch science fiction films, we see glass displays everywhere. This study is a small step in that direction. ”

To achieve this unusual effect, Chow, together with Loic Markley, sprayed silver atoms on a glass in a vacuum to obtain a 10 nm thick coating. The resulting sandwich showed better throughput than conventional glass.

Engineers came up with this method, inspired by a technique known since the 1950s, through which transparent metal films are coated with a dielectric, as a result of which their transparency increases. This method is used to obtain heat-reflecting windows. While studying it, the engineers thought - and what can be obtained if, on the contrary, a dielectric is coated with a metal layer. As a result, their discovery may lead to the emergence of more energy-efficient buildings and new unusual electronic devices using transparent screens.

Last December, American scientists introduced a new transparent metal that can replace indium tin oxide (ITO). The new material does not lag behind the widely used ITO in terms of transparency, conductivity and ease of manufacture, while overtaking it at the cost of the final product.