Phase Change Materials Application in VR, Soft Robotics and Smart Window

A phase-change material (PCM) is a material which releases/absorbs sufficient energy during phase transition to provide useful heat or cooling. PCMs are generally getting intense attention for thermal energy storage and generation. Besides the traditional energy related application, PCM is expanding its applications to various non-energy related fields. This talk will presents the recent progresses in the applications of PCM in various new fields including (1) virtual reality (VR): a thermo-haptic device that enables the artificial hot and cold sensation in virtual environment, (2) soft robotics: an actuator using large volume deformation during phase change to replace bulky conventional air pump, (3) smart window: a transparency changing devices upon phase change.