Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2017
Traditional solar power applications largely avoid using the infrared spectrum. Nevertheless, this region makes up about 45% of the solar power spectrum and therefore represents an untapped resource. Temperature control of buildings represents a significant cost for both businesses and private consumers. We are interested in developing thermochromic materials for building coatings to help moderate solar infrared absorption and thereby offset temperature control costs for buildings. Our initial effort in this study has been to characterize materials which might represent starting points for our research. We previously designed and 3D-printed an optical test platform to perform reflectance measurements with an ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectrometer over a spectral range from 200-1000nm. The test platform temperature can be adjusted in real time using Peltier modules. In this study, a sample of microencapsulated 7-anilino-3-diethylamino-6-methyl fluoran was studied by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy from 15-40 degrees Celsius. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the dye particles. Temperature and spectral data were monitored while the sample temperature was adjusted. The visible diffuse reflectance from the sample increased from around 15% below the transition to more than 40% above the transition. A modification of this fluoran which extends the switching behavior into the infrared may be viable for passive thermo-optical switching in building coatings.