nanoGUNE Colloquium: MEMS smart glass - a chance for huge energy savings in buildings and a way into the mysterious world of Casimir forces

MEMS smart glass – a chance for huge energy savings in buildings and a way into the mysterious world of Casimir forces

Prof. Hartmut Hillmer

University of Kassel, Germany

Today, buildings are responsible for the highest amount of primary energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting that triggers rapid global warming, rising sea-level, and profound changes in ocean ecosystems by emitting a massive amount of CO2. Micro- and nano-structured MEMS mirror arrays (placed inside insulated window glazing) can steer and control daylight dynamically and automatically according to user requirements. The presentation gives an overview on methodology, fabrication process, characterization and application. By chance, research on that field also brought us to a novel self-assembly technology based on the fascinating nanoscale Casimir effect. Also here, the presentation introduces fundamentals, design, fabrication and characterization. 

Host: A. Seifert