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A sandwich-structured material with wavelength conversion functionality for all-day radiative cooling

Author

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  • Zhang, Wentao
  • Jiang, Xingchi
  • Cheng, Zhu
  • Hu, Wenxin
  • Long, Enshen

Abstract

Radiative cooling materials (RCMs) facilitate zero-energy cooling, which plays a crucial role in addressing the energy crisis. To achieve daytime radiative cooling, it is essential that RCMs minimize sunlight absorption. However, many existing materials designed to reflect sunlight suffer from the disadvantage of absorbing significant amounts of ultraviolet and short-visible light. This study introduces a sandwich-structured RCM composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the matrix, combined with hollow SiO2 microspheres, noctilucent powder, and rutile-TiO2 microparticles as functional fillers. The middle layer of the material absorbs ultraviolet light and converts it into visible light, while the bottom reflective layer exhibits strong reflection properties for visible light, thus preventing ultraviolet light absorption by the bottom layer. Notably, whereas most prior studies have focused on winter conditions, this research specifically targets summer, when the demand for cooling is heightened. The RCM achieved a temperature reduction of 15 °C below the ambient temperature of the test chamber during the day and 7.5 °C below the outside ambient temperature at night. This wavelength conversion strategy offers a practical approach to enhancing the daytime cooling performance of RCMs.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Wentao & Jiang, Xingchi & Cheng, Zhu & Hu, Wenxin & Long, Enshen, 2025. "A sandwich-structured material with wavelength conversion functionality for all-day radiative cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:255:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125015034
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123839
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    References listed on IDEAS

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