Rational Design and Fine Fabrication of Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling Textiles Integrate Antibacterial,...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) textiles enable personal cooling without energy use.
• Current PDRC textiles lack multifunctional capabilities, limiting practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a multifunctional PDRC textile with enhanced cooling, UV-shielding, and self-cleaning properties.
• To integrate aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanoparticles into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers for improved performance.

Main Methods:

• Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanoparticles were incorporated into PVDF nanofibers using electrospinning.
• The PDRC textiles' optical properties (reflectance, emissivity) were measured.
• Outdoor cooling performance was evaluated using a skin simulator under solar irradiation.
• Antibacterial, UV-shielding, and self-cleaning functionalities were assessed.

Main Results:

• The PDRC textiles achieved a 92.3% sunlight reflection rate and 89.5% mid-infrared emissivity.
• Outdoor tests showed a cooling effect of 16.1 °C below ambient temperature.
• The textiles demonstrated 99.99% antibacterial efficiency against E. coli, UPF > 50+ UV shielding, and effective self-cleaning.

Conclusions:

• The developed PVDF/AZO PDRC textiles offer significant cooling, UV protection, and self-cleaning capabilities.
• This technology presents a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for daytime personal thermal management.
• The multifunctional PDRC textiles overcome limitations of existing cooling fabrics.