In the UN Environment Annual Report (2017), air pollution, defined as the biggest environmental health risk of our time causing the deaths of more than 6 million people every year. Carbon dioxide (CO2), which is generated through bodily metabolic processes, an invisible, odorless, and non-combustible gas pollutant. It is a basic asphyxiant. OSHA has reported a permissible exposure limit (PEL) as 5000 ppm, calculated over the duration of an 8-hour workday. 

Lacking a constant airflow causes serious indoor AQ problems for the public. Developing air-permeable smart windows to monitor and reduce CO2 can be a radical solution to improve indoor AQ in buildings. This can reduce a great burden on public health. The HyBreath Glass Project aims to pave the way for “artificial breathing smart windows” by embedding functional electroactive materials into MOF glasses to monitor and reduce CO2 levels in indoor public places.

Project aim to transform microporous MOF glasses into smart windows. 

For a breathing glass, a photosynthetic electroactive material needs to be embedded in the hybrid glass matrix for the photoelectrochemical (PEC) reduction of CO2 molecules during permeation. Electrochemical CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) include multiple electron/proton transfer processes, and CO2 is reduced into various gases and liquids, including hydrocarbons (HCOOH), carbon monoxide (CO), alcohol and ethane, depending on the characteristics of the electrocatalyst and electrolytic conditions (applicable potentials, electrolyte, etc.)