Tunable Radiative Cooling by Mechanochromic Electrospun Micro-Nanofiber Matrix
Kyung Rok Pyun1, Seongmin Jeong1, Myung Jin Yoo1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|December 13, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a new material for efficient radiative thermoregulation. This mechanoresponsive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-nanofiber matrix offers both cooling and heating, demonstrating potential for energy efficiency and thermal management.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Thermal Engineering
Background:
- Radiative thermoregulation is an energy-efficient thermal management strategy.
- Developing materials with tunable radiative properties is crucial for advanced thermal control.
- Existing solutions often lack dynamic adjustability for varying environmental conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a mechanoresponsive material for dynamic radiative thermoregulation.
- To create a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-nanofiber matrix with switchable solar reflectivity.
- To achieve both sub-ambient radiative cooling and solar heating capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Core-shell electrospinning technique to fabricate PDMS micro-nanofibers.
- Characterization of fiber morphology, solar reflectivity, and infrared emissivity.
- Testing of radiative cooling performance and mechanical modulation of solar reflectivity.
Main Results:
- Electrospun PDMS micro-nanofibers exhibited high solar reflectivity (≈93%) and high IR emissivity.
- Achieved sub-ambient radiative cooling performance of ≈3.8°C during daytime.
- Demonstrated reversible modulation of solar reflectivity (≈80%) via mechanical force, enabling multi-step thermoregulation.
Conclusions:
- The developed mechanoresponsive PDMS matrix offers dynamic radiative thermoregulation.
- This technology provides enhanced flexibility for thermal management in diverse environments.
- The findings present a promising approach for energy conservation and addressing global climate change.
