Issue 7, 2023

Selective spectral absorption of nanofibers for color-preserving daytime radiative cooling

Abstract

Passive radiative cooling is a promising solution for cooling objects without consuming energy. However, chemical colors absorb visible light and generate heat, posing a challenge in the design of a colored sub-ambient daytime radiative cooler (CSDRC) in a simple and scalable way. Herein, we used nanofibers (NF) to achieve selective spectral absorption of the daytime radiative cooler through a dope-dyeing electrospinning technique. This approach allows for the selective absorption of desired colors in the visible spectrum, while the nanofiber structure provides strong visible and near-infrared light scattering to minimize solar heating. We selected cellulose acetate (CA) with mid-infrared emittance characteristics for efficient sky cooling. Our design enabled the CA NF CSDRC to exhibit an ultra-high NIR reflectance of 99%, a high MIR emittance of 95%, and vibrant colors. These unique optical properties resulted in a reduction of the maximum ambient temperature by 3.2 °C and a cooling power of ≈40 W m−2 at a solar intensity of 700 W m−2. Additionally, the flexibility and deformability of the colored nanofiber cooler make it suitable for thermal management in various practical applications. Our work provides a simple and scalable solution for designing colored passive radiative cooling materials.

Graphical abstract: Selective spectral absorption of nanofibers for color-preserving daytime radiative cooling

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
15 3 2023
Accepted
26 3 2023
First published
31 3 2023

Mater. Horiz., 2023,10, 2487-2495

Selective spectral absorption of nanofibers for color-preserving daytime radiative cooling

X. Li, H. Xu, Y. Yang, F. Li, S. Ramakrishna, J. Yu, D. Ji and X. Qin, Mater. Horiz., 2023, 10, 2487 DOI: 10.1039/D3MH00391D

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