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Strong, Recyclable, and Sustainable Radiative Cooler with Heterogeneous Interlocking Architecture for Agricultural
Xianxian Lin1, Zhulin Li1, Jianguo Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Woody Oil Resource Utilization, College of Materials and Energy, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410000, China.
ACS Nano
|March 31, 2026
Summary
A new sustainable, recyclable radiative cooling film combats agricultural heat stress. This advanced biocomposite film reflects sunlight, cools crops, reduces water loss, and can be recycled, boosting food security.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Agricultural thermal stress and water loss threaten global food security, worsened by climate change.
- Passive radiative cooling offers a sustainable solution, but current materials have drawbacks.
- Petrochemical materials cause waste; biomass alternatives lack performance and durability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a high-performance, sustainable, and recyclable radiative cooling film for agriculture.
- To address the limitations of existing radiative cooling technologies.
- To mitigate agricultural heat stress and water loss for enhanced crop yield.
Main Methods:
- Vacuum-assisted hierarchical self-assembly process to create a biocomposite film.
- Characterization of solar reflectance (98.1%) and infrared emittance (93.2%).
- Field testing to evaluate cooling performance, soil evaporation, and crop yield.
Main Results:
- Achieved significant subambient cooling with average temperature reductions of 4.6 °C.
- Demonstrated superior mechanical strength (38.7 MPa) compared to commercial mulch (14 MPa).
- Developed a water-mediated recycling process with >90% material recovery, minimizing waste.
Conclusions:
- The developed radiative cooling film offers a sustainable and effective solution for agricultural thermal management.
- The material enhances crop yield and reduces water loss while being environmentally friendly.
- This recyclable biocomposite presents a transformative approach to sustainable agriculture in challenging climates.
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