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Bioinspired Durable Daytime Radiative Cooling Wood: Realizing Outdoor Longtime Use

  • 0Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resource, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.
Nano Letters +

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March 7, 2025

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March 7, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a durable cooling wood material that maintains its efficiency after prolonged UV exposure. This sustainable wood-based cooler offers a promising solution for energy-saving daytime radiative cooling applications.

Area Of Science

  • Materials Science
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Nanotechnology

Background

  • Daytime radiative cooling offers zero-energy heat dissipation by reflecting sunlight and emitting infrared radiation.
  • Wood-based coolers are sustainable and cost-effective but degrade under ultraviolet (UV) radiation, reducing efficiency.
  • The Saharan silver ant's structure-functionality relationship inspired a novel approach to enhance wood durability.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To develop an outdoor durable cooling wood (DCW) material with enhanced UV resistance and sustained cooling performance.
  • To investigate the assembly of a photonic structure for improved solar reflectance and infrared emittance.
  • To demonstrate the material's potential for energy savings through passive cooling.

Main Methods

  • Delignified wood was modified by assembling a Mica@TiO2 photonic structure.
  • The structural integrity and composition were analyzed to understand UV resistance mechanisms.
  • Solar reflectance, infrared emittance, mechanical strength, and cooling efficiency under UV exposure were evaluated.

Main Results

  • The DCW achieved high solar reflectance (0.958) and infrared emittance (0.95).
  • The material exhibited significant mechanical strength (47 MPa) and superior UV resistance.
  • Cooling efficiency was maintained at 4.5 °C after 720 hours of UV exposure, preserving the wood's C-O-C skeleton.

Conclusions

  • The developed DCW demonstrates excellent durability and sustained daytime radiative cooling performance.
  • The Mica@TiO2 photonic structure effectively protects the wood substrate from UV degradation.
  • This work presents a viable pathway for creating sustainable, long-lasting radiative cooling materials for energy savings.

Keywords:

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