Updated July 05, 2017 11:57:18

Imagine a window that could instantly turn into mirror the possibility is real, thanks to a breakthrough in nanotechnology by researchers at the Australian National University (ANU).

They have developed a material that promises to protect astronauts from harmful radiation, as well as practical uses closer to home.

ANU researchers have dubbed their invention a "smart mirror", and all that is needed for it to change is an adjustment to its temperature.

"Our smart mirror consists of lots of dielectric nanoparticles which are carefully designed and arranged within a single layer," ANU lead researcher Dr Mohsen Rahmani said.

The layer of nanoparticles are spread so thin that they are just 0.00005 of a millimetre apart.

"Today's technology, all optical silicates consist of the elements that work statically," Dr Rahmani said.

"Which means they either transmit the light or reflect the light, or something in between."

Until now, optical silicates have only achieved one function.

But with a switch in heat, this new one promises to transform to either absorb, reflect or emit light and radiation.

"By our technology, for the first time you can have a single element which can have all those functions at the same time, and you can control the light passing through or reflects," Dr Rahmani said.

Dr Rahmani said the film was thin enough to coat a pin head hundreds of times, and could be applied to any surface like a spacesuit.

"By adjusting the temperature of that thin layer, we are able to control the optical properties of those nanoparticles," he said.

"So that the entire surface can either transmit or reflect the incoming light on demand."

One of the major problems involved with prolonged space travel is exposure to cosmic radiation.

Currently thick filter panels are needed to protect both space craft and astronauts.

"As we know, the temperature in space varies a lot," Dr Rahmani said.

"Just imagine we can have a smart mirror which can reflect different frequencies at different temperature.

"It can give a great platform to protect the devices or astronauts in different environments in the space."

Sending people into space has seen the creation of a number of innovations and inventions now used in daily life memory foam, quick-dry anti-rust paint, water filters, and some bulletproof fabrics all came from the space race.

And just like those innovations initially designed for space travel, this one also has useful applications on Earth.

Just like a car's back window has wires running through it to defog it with a change in heat, a similar system has been proposed to control the temperature in the new film, switching clear glass to a mirror or an illuminated panel.

"The principle is quite extendable to other frequencies as well," co-researcher and associate professor Andrey Miroshnichenko said.

"Including visible, which opens [a] whole range of new types of application, including architectural ones.

"Where for example, your window becomes a mirror."

With mirrors switching to light panels, the ANU team said the technology also promises to save energy.

Topics: science-and-technology, nanotechnology, research, australia, australian-national-university-0200

First posted July 05, 2017 11:42:49

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Nanotechnology to protect astronauts from harmful radiation, and ... - ABC Online