Advances in Electrospun Nanofiber Materials for Outdoor Passive Radiative Cooling: A Review

As global warming intensifies, the increased demand for cooling leads to a corresponding rise in carbon dioxide emissions and thermal discharges, forming a vicious circle that further intensifies climate change. Outdoor passive radiative cooling (PRC) offers a sustainable solution for the substitution of the active cooling system characteristic by an energy-intensive system. Particularly, electrospun nanofiber materials, engineered at the wavelength scale with tailored micro- and nanostructures, provide a high-efficiency cooling strategy across various applications. To promote the practical application and further development of outdoor PRC technology, this paper summarizes typical electrospun nanofibers and their composites developed in recent years for outdoor PRC, with a focus on their micro/nanostructural characteristics. The multifunctional designs and applications of these materials are thoroughly discussed, along with their advantages and potential risks. Finally, the challenges and potential development trends for electrospun outdoor PRC materials are forecast. In the future, electrospun nanofibrous outdoor PRC materials are anticipated to play a pivotal role in augmenting worldwide energy conservation and diminishing carbon emissions, while mitigating the threat of heat stress for humans.