Near-Wavelength Sculpturing-Evoked Radiative Cooling

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Thermodynamics

Background:

• Radiative cooling offers energy-efficient temperature regulation.
• Existing methods face challenges in high-temperature environments.
• Inspiration from nature, like Sahara silver ants, drives innovation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust radiative cooling technique for high-temperature applications.
• To leverage surface plasmon resonance for enhanced thermal emission.
• To create a cost-effective and energy-efficient cooling solution.

Main Methods:

• Direct femtosecond laser sculpting of microgrooves on substrates.
• Tuning microgroove dimensions (depth, width) to control surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
• Utilizing SPR to enhance mid-infrared emittance through the atmospheric transparency window.

Main Results:

• Achieved a temperature drop of up to 24 °C at approximately 419 °C.
• Demonstrated functional stability at temperatures exceeding 400 °C without additive layers.
• Method is lightweight and maintains performance under harsh conditions.

Conclusions:

• Femtosecond laser sculpting of microgrooves is an effective method for high-temperature radiative cooling.
• The technology enables significant passive cooling in extreme thermal environments.
• This approach opens new possibilities for advanced thermal management in various applications.