The team, from the Central South University of Forestry and Technology (CSUFT), has developed a transparent material derived from bamboo which, as well as being aesthetically pleasing, is also functionally superior.
According to EurekAlert, the material has a three-layer fire retardant barrier that effectively reduces the release of heat, slows the spread of flames and limits the emission of combustible volatiles, toxic smoke and carbon monoxide (CO).
Bamboo has an extended ignition time of 116 seconds, a total heat release of just 0.7 MJ/m², and a total smoke production of 0.063 m². In addition to robust mechanical properties, it has bending and tensile moduli of 7.6 ± 1.3 GPa and 6.7 ± 1.1 GPa, respectively.
As far as transparency is concerned, the researchers report that it offers a transparency of 71.6% and a haze value of 96.7%, ideal for applications requiring light control.
When used as a substrate for perovskite solar cells, transparent bamboo shows a remarkable 15.29% increase in energy conversion efficiency, proof of its potential to significantly improve the efficiency of these energy technologies.
Unlike ordinary silica glass, which has certain challenges - such as its fragility, high density, significant emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases during its manufacture - bamboo solves these problems and offers environmental benefits, such as the fact that it regenerates quickly, reaching maturity in just 4 to 7 years.
In addition, it produces up to four times more material per hectare than forest, making it a highly efficient and sustainable renewable resource, especially compared to wood.
The scientific article was recently published in Research.
