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Updated: Feb 10, 2026
09:24
Micropunching Lithography for Generating Micro- and Submicron-patterns on Polymer Substrates
Published on: July 2, 2012
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Radiative Cooling with Transparent Microstructured Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Polymer Film Fabricated by Nanoimprint
Nefeli Dimogerontaki1,2, Nikolaos Matthaiakakis1, Nikolaos Kehagias1
1NCSR Demokritos, Institute of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, P. Grigoriou 27 & Neapoleos Str., Ag. Paraskevi, Attiki 15341, Greece.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|February 9, 2026
Summary
This study presents a scalable, low-cost transparent radiative cooling film using nanoimprint lithography. The microstructured polymer-based radiative cooling (MPRC) film achieves -3 °C cooling, offering a practical solution for energy efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Sustainable Energy
Background:
- Radiative cooling is a passive technology for energy efficiency in various applications.
- Photonic radiative coolers leverage photonic structures for optimized emission in the 8-13 μm atmospheric transparency window (ATW).
- Scalable, low-cost fabrication methods are crucial for practical implementation of radiative cooling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a transparent microstructured polymer-based radiative cooling (MPRC) film.
- To characterize the optical properties of Ormocomp within the ATW.
- To demonstrate an enhanced, practical radiative cooling solution.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of MPRC film using nanoimprint lithography with Ormocomp (hybrid organic-inorganic UV-curable resist).
- Optical property characterization of Ormocomp within the 8-13 μm ATW.
- Performance evaluation of the MPRC film under direct sunlight.
Main Results:
- The MPRC film exhibits over 90% transmission in visible-NIR wavelengths.
- Ormocomp's optical properties within the ATW were characterized, revealing emissivity enhancement mechanisms.
- A -3 °C cooling effect above ambient was achieved compared to a bare Si reference under direct sunlight.
Conclusions:
- The developed MPRC film offers a practical and scalable radiative cooling solution.
- The fabrication approach is suitable for applications requiring optical transparency.
- Further enhancement is possible by pairing with reflective substrates.
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