Our low-cost MRLR films can improve indoor comfort, save energy, and enhance privacy by passively regulating light, heat, and humidity.
The new hydrogel coating keeps solar panels cooler, prevents damage from hot spots, and increases power output, all without changing the panel’s wiring.
The BEEE Department is proud to announce two recent research breakthroughs published in the prestigious journal Advanced Energy Materials, showcasing our commitment to innovation in sustainable building and energy technologies.
Smart Window Film for Cooler, Drier, and More Private Indoor Spaces
A research team from BEEE, Professor Yan Jinyue Jerry and Dr Liu Junwei, has developed a revolutionary smart window film that passively regulates both sunlight and humidity, making indoor environments cooler during the day and drier at night—without any electricity or moving parts. The moisture-responsive, light-regulating (MRLR) film demonstrated impressive results in real-world tests, reducing room humidity from 92% to 54% within six hours at night and lowering daytime temperatures by upto 21°C compared to unprotected areas. The film’s durability was confirmed over 300 cycles, and its low-cost, eco-friendly materials make it highly scalable, with an estimated payback period of just 34 days. Building-scale modeling suggests the MRLR film could cut annual energy use by 24.6% and reduce carbon emissions by 18.89 kg/(year·m²). This innovative work was published in Advanced Energy Materials and was awarded a Silver Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.
Read the full paper: DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202503332
Hydrogel Coating Makes Solar Panels Safer, More Efficient, and Longer-Lasting
In another significant advance, BEEE researchers, Professor Yan Jinyue Jerry and Dr Liu Junwei, have created a simple, affordable hydrogel coating that passively cools solar panels, preventing damaging “hot spots” without requiring any changes to panel wiring. This new hydrogel keeps hot spots up to 16°C cooler and boosts power output by as much as 13%. The coating is also more durable than previous versions, maintaining its effectiveness over time. Modeling indicates that this technology could increase annual solar power generation by 7% in Singapore and 6.5% in Hong Kong, with payback periods as short as 3–4 years. Globally, it could recover about half of the power lost to hot spots in building-integrated solar systems, accelerating the transition to clean, carbon-neutral energy.
Read the full paper: DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202504366
Congratulations to our research teams for these outstanding achievements and for advancing the frontiers of sustainable energy solutions!
