MOCHI: New Window Insulation Blocks Heat, Not Your View

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new material
that could significantly improve energy efficiency in buildings worldwide without
requiring costly renovations. Called MOCHI (Mesoporous Optically
Clear Heat Insulator), the transparent silicone gel can be applied directly to
windows in sheets just 5 millimeters thick, blocking heat loss while maintaining
views.

Buildings account for approximately 40% of all energy consumed
globally. While effective insulation solutions exist for walls, roofs, and
floors, windows have historically presented a challenge to energy efficiency,
allowing heat to escape in cold weather and enter during warmer months.

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The University of Colorado Boulder team believes MOCHI offers a solution to a
long-standing problem. “You can put a lot of insulation in your walls, but
windows need to be transparent,” explains Ivan Smalyukh, a
Professor of Physics at CU Boulder and the lead author of the
study published in the journal Science. “No matter
what the temperatures are outside, we want people to be able to have
comfortable temperatures inside without wasting energy.”

How it Works

Until now, aerogels have been the leading insulation solution. However, these
materials have an internal structure that makes them opaque or translucent,
limiting their use in windows. The breakthrough with MOCHI lies in precisely
controlling the microscopic air bubbles within its structure. This innovation
could represent a significant step forward in sustainable building materials.

According to the research team, the manufacturing process begins by mixing
surfactants—molecules similar to detergents—into a liquid solution containing
silicon particles. The surfactants naturally group together, forming thin
threads to which silicone molecules adhere. Researchers then use a series of
chemical steps to replace the surfactant molecules with air, resulting in a
network of microscopic silicone tubes filled with air—much thinner than a human
hair.

Air accounts for more than 90% of MOCHI’s volume, explaining its exceptional
insulating ability. However, the real innovation occurs at the molecular level.
Heat is transferred through gases as thermal energy causes molecules and atoms
to collide, transferring energy. But the bubbles in MOCHI are so small that
the gas molecules trapped inside cannot collide freely.

“The molecules don’t have a chance to collide freely with each other and
exchange energy,” the researcher explains. “Instead, they collide with the
walls of the pores.” Simultaneously, the material reflects only a tiny amount
of incoming light, allowing more than 99% to pass through, making it far more
transparent than traditional aerogels.

Easy to Manufacture

While MOCHI is not yet commercially available and is currently produced in a
laboratory setting, its developers are optimistic about its potential. The
ingredients used to manufacture it are relatively inexpensive and readily
available, and the team believes the manufacturing process can be optimized
for speed and efficiency. “The ingredients my team uses to make MOCHI are
relatively cheap, which is promising for turning this material into a
commercial product,” Smalyukh assures.

Potential applications extend beyond residential windows. A 5-millimeter-thick
sheet of MOCHI provides such significant insulation that, according to
researchers, you could hold a flame in your palm without getting burned if
your hand were covered with the material. This efficiency makes it ideal for
both skyscrapers and single-family homes, offering a long-term investment due
to the material’s durability.

Engineers also envision devices that use MOCHI to capture heat from sunlight
and convert it into sustainable, cost-effective energy. “Even on a somewhat
cloudy day, you could still harness a lot of energy and then use it to heat
your water and the interior of your building,” Smalyukh suggests. This ability
to capture solar energy without sacrificing transparency opens up exciting
possibilities for the sustainable architecture of the future.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new material
that could significantly improve energy efficiency in buildings worldwide without
requiring costly renovations. Called MOCHI (Mesoporous Optically
Clear Heat Insulator), the transparent silicone gel can be applied directly to
windows in sheets just 5 millimeters thick, blocking heat loss while maintaining
views.