Photosynthetic glass : as a responsive bioenergy system

Alston, ME

Abstract

Can photosynthesis of leaves evolve glass into a photoactive energy
system? To create a transculent material that emulates the chemical reaction cycle
of leaves by endothermic principles as a metabolic cycle for thermal conductance
heat targeting. The evolution of glass envelopes into a photoactive adsorption layer,
at an integrated multiscale level, in response to climatic regionalization.

Nature’s biological systems are living multifunctional mechanical information systems of
chemical composition. They have the ability to learn and adapt to changing climatic
conditions by self-regulation of solar adsorption, to achieve thermal management.
These self-programmable controls of adaptive material performance will progress
the surfaces of a skyscraper, from being a mere material entity to a dynamic one.

This response to real-time performance change by the hour, season and weather
conditions is exothermic management of a glass material as an energy flow cycle.
The transformation of glass envelopes into a dynamic energy system that responds
to the environment and contributes to the planet’s energy needs. This chapter
focuses on the use of an optically transparent, thermal energy adsorbing glass
composite that is in the conceptual phase. Progression of this has just entered the
laboratory testing of the first phototype composite.

Citation

Alston, M. (2016). Photosynthetic glass : as a responsive bioenergy system. In F. Pacheco Torgal, C. Buratti, S. Kalaiselvam, C. Granqvist, & V. Ivanov (Eds.), Introduction to Nano- and Biotech-Based Materials for Energy Building Efficiency (97-124). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27505-5_5

• Publication Date: Feb 5, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 20, 2016
• Pages: 97-124
• Book Title: Introduction to Nano- and Biotech-Based Materials for Energy Building Efficiency
• ISBN: 9783319275031-(Print)-9783319275055-(Online)
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27505-5_5
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27505-5_5
• Related Public URLs: http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-27505-5