Interestingly, the long-lasting, almost completely transparent material is available in large slabs or thin sheets for easy application to the inside of any window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter what the temperatures are outside, we want people to be able to have comfortable temperatures inside without having to waste energy,\u201d said Ivan Smalyukh, a senior author and CU Boulder physics professor, on December 11.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-12-at-12.03.20-PM.png\" "\\"US")
Team holding up a thin sheet of MOCHI affixed to a clear plastic sheet. (Photo by Glenn J. Asakawa\/CU Boulder)<\/p>\n
Bubble wrap-like material <\/p>\n
The researchers describe MOCHI\u2019s structure as the \u201chigh-tech version of Bubble Wrap.\u201d<\/p>\n
MOCHI is a silicone gel that is over 90 percent air. The material traps air within a network of incredibly small pores, many times thinner than a human hair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A five-millimeter-thick sheet leverages those tiny air bubbles to block heat so well that it provides sufficient insulation<\/a> to hold a flame safely in the hand.<\/p>\n The new invention is an improvement on aerogels, insulating materials often called \u201cfrozen smoke\u201d because their randomly distributed air pockets tend to appear cloudy. <\/p>\n NASA uses these older aerogels<\/a> to keep Mars rovers warm, but they lack the clarity needed for a living room.<\/p>\n Smalyukh\u2019s team carefully designed the fabrication process to achieve transparency. <\/p>\n The creation of MOCHI begins by mixing surfactants (special molecules) into a liquid solution. These surfactants naturally clump together, forming thin threads \u2014 a process comparable to oil and vinegar separating.\u00a0<\/p>\n Silicone molecules in the solution then adhere to the exterior of these surfactant threads, forming the initial structure.<\/p>\n Once the detergent molecules are removed and replaced with air through a series of steps, the remaining structure is silicone, forming a maze of tiny, air-filled channels.<\/p>\n Regular heat transfer works like a game of pool, where energetic molecules bounce off one another, transferring heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n But in MOCHI\u2019s minuscule air pockets, the gas molecules don\u2019t have enough space to collide with each other. They bounce off the pore walls. This mechanism effectively stops heat flow.<\/p>\n The result is an insulating layer that reflects a mere 0.2 percent of incoming light. Hence, your view remains crisp.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Making energy-efficient windows in the future <\/p>\n MOCHI is currently made in thin sheets in the lab and is not yet available to consumers. However, its potential extends beyond simple window<\/a> coating.<\/p>\n Engineers envision designing devices that harness MOCHI to trap the sun\u2019s heat, converting sunlight into cheap, sustainable energy for heating water and building interiors, even on cloudy days.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when it\u2019s a somewhat cloudy day, you could still harness a lot of energy and then use it to heat your water and your building interior,\u201d Smalyukh said.<\/a><\/p>\n The manufacturing process is currently time-intensive. Nevertheless, the team believes the production method can be made more efficient, aided by the relatively inexpensive materials used.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a home leaking warmth in winter or a skyscraper baking in the summer sun, MOCHI targets the problem of poor thermal exchange through transparent surfaces. It could eventually lead to the future of energy-efficient windows.<\/a><\/p>\n