Thermochromic smart windows technology can intelligently regulate indoor solar radiation by changing indoor light transmittance in response to thermal stimulation, thus reducing energy consumption of the building. In recent years, with the development of new energy-saving materials and the combination with practical technology, energy-saving smart windows technology has received more and more attention from scientific research. Based on the summary of thermochromic smart windows by Yi Long research groups, this review described the applications of thermal responsive organic materials in smart windows, including poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogels, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogels, ionic liquids and liquid crystals. Besides, the mechanism of various organic materials and the properties of functional materials were also introduced. Finally, opportunities and challenges relating to thermochromic smart windows and prospects for future development are discussed.

The FeCoCrNiB_x high-entropy alloy (HEA) coatings with three different boron (B) contents were synthesized on Q245R steel (American grade: SA515 Gr60) by laser cladding deposition technology. Effects of B content on the microstructure and wear properties of FeCoCrNiB_x HEA coating were investigated. In this study, the phase composition, microstructure, micro-hardness, and wear resistance (rolling friction) were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a micro hardness tester, and a roller friction wear tester, respectively. The FeCoCrNiB_x coatings exhibited a typical dendritic and interdendritic structure, and the microstructure was refined with the increase of B content. Additionally, the coatings were found to be a simple face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solution with borides. In terms of mechanical properties, the hardness and wear resistance ability of the coating can be enhanced with the increase of the B content, and the maximum hardness value of three HEA coatings reached around 1025 HV_0.2, which is higher than the hardness of the substrate material. It is suggested that the present fabricated HEA coatings possess potentials in application of wear resistance structures for Q245R steel.

Native collagen fibrils (CF) were successfully extracted from bovine tendons using two different methods: modified acid-solubilized extraction for A-CF and pepsin-aided method for P-CF. The yields of A-CF and P-CF were up to 64.91% (±1.07% SD) and 56.78% (±1.22% SD) (dry weight basis), respectively. The analyses of both amino acid composition and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) confirmed that A-CF and P-CF were type I collagen fibrils. Both A-CF and P-CF retained the intact crystallinity and integrity of type I collagen’s natural structure by FTIR spectra, circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) and X-ray diffraction detection. The aggregation structures of A-CF and P-CF were displayed by UV–Vis. However, A-CF showed more intact aggregation structure than P-CF. Microstructure and D-periodicities of A-CF and P-CF were observed (SEM and TEM). The diameters of A-CF and P-CF are about 386 and 282 nm, respectively. Although both A-CF and P-CF were theoretically concordant with the Schmitt hypothesis, A-CF was of evener thickness and higher integrity in terms of aggregation structure than P-CF. Modified acid-solubilized method provides a potential non-enzyme alternative to extract native collagen fibrils with uniform thickness and integral aggregation structure.