MOCHI Blocks 90% Of Heat Transfer In Windows - CleanTechnica

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new window coating called MOCHI (Mesoporous Optically Clear Heat Insulator) that significantly reduces heat transfer while maintaining transparency. This innovative material is a 5-millimeter-thick silicone gel embedded with millions of tiny air bubbles, allowing 99% of visible light to pass through but blocking 90% of heat transfer. MOCHI can be applied as thin sheets to existing windows, potentially reducing the energy demand for heating and cooling buildings, which currently accounts for about 40% of global energy use. The coating is durable, lasting up to 20 years, and aims to improve indoor comfort without increasing energy consumption. MOCHI differs from traditional insulating materials like aerogels by its highly controlled microscopic air pockets. Unlike aerogels, which scatter light and appear cloudy due to randomly distributed air bubbles, MOCHI’s air pockets are uniformly structured, resulting in near-complete transparency. The researchers achieved this by using surfactant molecules to