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A Dual-Mode Textile for Year-Round Passive Thermal Regulation Combining Radiative Cooling and Solar Heating
Shuqi Zhang1, Zhihua Zhou1, Xueqing Yang1
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 5, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a dual-mode textile (DMT) that provides year-round passive thermal regulation by combining radiative cooling and solar thermal harvesting. The innovative smart textile offers significant temperature control for enhanced human comfort in diverse climates.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Textile Engineering
- Thermal Management
Background:
- Human thermoregulation is vital, but conventional textiles fail to maintain stable body temperatures during fluctuating climates.
- Dynamic climatic variations pose challenges for personal thermal comfort and functional capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a dual-mode textile (DMT) for year-round passive thermal regulation.
- To integrate radiative cooling and solar thermal harvesting technologies into a single textile solution.
Main Methods:
- The DMT was engineered with a cooling layer featuring high solar reflectance (96.1%) and mid-infrared emissivity (92.0%).
- Heating mode utilizes high solar absorptivity (90%).
- Performance was evaluated through direct sunlight tests, mechanical property assessments, water vapor permeability tests, and real-world wear trials.
Main Results:
- The cooling layer achieved an average temperature drop of 6.37 °C (53.3 W/m²) under sunlight.
- The heating mode demonstrated an average temperature increase of 16.3 °C.
- Wear tests showed a 2.3 °C reduction compared to cotton, with simulations predicting summer cooling of ~5 °C and winter insulation of ~13 °C.
Conclusions:
- The developed DMT offers effective passive thermal regulation for year-round use.
- This technology enables dynamic thermal management, paving the way for next-generation smart textiles.
- The textile exhibits excellent mechanical and breathable properties for practical applications.
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