Smart coatings for energy saving buildings

The present thesis is devoted to synthesis, through the environmentally friendly citrate sol-gel route, of YIn0.9O3 −ZnO near infrared reflective based pigments, having different chromophore elements (Mn, Cu, Fe), with the aim to add in binder and obtaining cool coatings. A “cool” coating for roofing consists of paint (or glaze) containing color pigments, which do not absorb the infrared portion of the solar spectrum. Cool coatings applied over buildings surface provide an effective solution for passive cooling of building indoors and influencing local outdoor microclimate, mitigating urban heat islands effect (UHIE). The primary purpose is to produce pigments according to an environmentally friendly route, using non-toxic raw materials, as well as short times and low temperatures for synthesis, and without residual waste. The resulting pigments must have high reflectance in the near-infrared so that they can be used in the field of cold paints. To realize the corresponding coatings, pigments were dispersed in two different binders (standard PMMA and industrial binder). For the most interesting pigments, in terms of NIR reflectance, other property, was decided to explore, which define these NIR reflective pigments as smart pigments for building application: the photocatalytic ability.