EnergySkin

Smart energy-generating building envelope

What if the building envelope could do more than simply insulate?

EnergySkin is developing a new generation of multifunctional building-envelope systems designed to combine thermal insulation, energy generation and energy storage in one integrated solution.

The concept uses the temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor environment as a source of low-grade thermal energy. Advanced nanomaterials, aerogels, polymer electrolytes and functional 3D-printed components are brought together in a single prototype system intended for future energy-efficient buildings.

One envelope. Multiple functions.

Thermal insulation
Aerogel-based materials provide very low thermal conductivity and help reduce heat transfer through the building envelope.

Energy generation
Thermoelectric and thermoionic effects are being investigated to convert small temperature differences into electrical energy.

Energy storage
The EnergySkin concept integrates energy-generation and storage functions within the same system, reducing the need for separate components.

Advanced 3D-printed structures
Functional polymer composites are being developed for system housings, embedded electrodes and current-collector structures.

How EnergySkin works

Buildings constantly experience temperature differences between their indoor and outdoor environments.

EnergySkin is designed to make use of this otherwise unused thermal gradient.

The prototype system combines:

Silica aerogel
for thermal insulation and nano-confinement of the polymer electrolyte.

Carbon aerogel electrodes
for electrochemical functionality and energy-storage applications.

Thermoelectric / thermoionic polymer electrolyte
for conversion of temperature gradients into electrical potential.

Functional polymer composites
including CNT-modified materials for 3D-printed structural and electrically functional components.

Integrated energy storage
based on an all-solid-state sodium-ion concept.