Radiative cooling applications toward enhanced energy efficiency: System designs, achievements, and perspectives
Hao Chen1, Xiangjun Liu1, Jingchong Liu2
1School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.))
|October 20, 2025
Summary
Radiative cooling leverages deep space to provide passive cooling, offering solutions for global energy and environmental challenges like heat and water scarcity. This review details its diverse applications and future potential.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Thermodynamics
- Sustainable Energy
Background:
- Radiative cooling uses deep space (∼3 K) for passive cooling, addressing energy and environmental issues.
- Widespread applications exist, but a comprehensive review is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging radiative cooling applications for enhanced energy efficiency.
- To analyze designs, achievements, and energy-saving capabilities across various fields.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of radiative cooling technologies.
- Summarization of up-to-date designs and performance.
- Extraction of advantages and limitations from research.
Main Results:
- Detailed review of applications: building cooling, personal thermal management, solar cell cooling, thermoelectric generation, freshwater collection, food production/storage.
- Analysis of design novelties, achievements, and energy-saving potential.
- Identification of current advantages and limitations.
Conclusions:
- Radiative cooling offers significant potential for diverse applications and real-world implementation.
- Highlights challenges and opportunities for extending radiative cooling technologies.
- Clarifies application progress and development direction for radiative cooling.
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