Smart building block with colored radiative cooling devices and quantum dot light emitting diodes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) offer efficient lighting but generate heat, potentially impacting performance and longevity.
• Radiative cooling passively dissipates heat by emitting thermal radiation to the cold outer space.
• Integrating lighting and cooling functions into a single building component presents an opportunity for energy efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a smart building block combining QLEDs with radiative cooling.
• To investigate the thermal management of QLEDs within the integrated building block.
• To evaluate the cooling performance and potential applications of the smart building block.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a bottom-inverted QLED integrated with a radiative cooling structure.
• Utilizing Ag-polydimethylsiloxane and colored radiative cooling paints for enhanced performance.
• Measurement and analysis of heat generated during QLED operation and its correlation with degradation.
• Demonstration of a smart imitation house system with the developed building block.

Main Results:

• The smart building block effectively dissipates heat generated by the QLED, mitigating degradation.
• Incorporation of colored radiative cooling paints achieved vivid red and yellow colors while maintaining cooling efficiency.
• A maximum cooling effect of 9.6 °C was observed in the imitation house system compared to a control.
• The radiative cooling structure did not negatively impact the QLED's performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed smart building block successfully integrates lighting and passive cooling functionalities.
• This technology offers a promising solution for efficient heat dissipation in QLED-based lighting systems.
• The study opens new possibilities for advanced lighting and sustainable cooling systems in buildings.