Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
09:01
High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings
Published on: April 16, 2017
Enhancing the Transparency-Temperature Trade-Off Through Spectral Engineering and Radiative Cooling
Pharit Gridtayawong1,2, Taweesak Kaewmanee1,2, Wachara Benchaphanthawee1,2
1School of Materials Science and Innovation Faculty of Science Mahidol University Nakhon Pathom Thailand.
Small Science
|June 11, 2026
Summary
New greenhouse films manage solar heat gain in tropical climates by controlling light spectra and using radiative cooling. This technology reduces daytime temperatures, enhancing crop productivity and greenhouse efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Agricultural Engineering
- Optics
Background:
- Excess solar heat gain and near-infrared (NIR) transmission in conventional greenhouse films limit productivity in tropical climates.
- Accumulation of thermal energy by polymer covers exacerbates heat stress for crops.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a scalable multilayer greenhouse film for mitigating daytime heat stress in tropical climates.
- To manage solar radiation through spectral engineering and radiative cooling for improved greenhouse environments.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a multilayer film with a TiO2-embedded PET scattering layer and UV-IR selective films.
- Design of two film configurations for different crop-dependent light requirements (57% and 37% photosynthetically active radiation transmission).
- Characterization of spectral properties, including NIR rejection and emissivity in the atmospheric window (8-13 µm).
Main Results:
- Multilayer films achieved 80-92% NIR transmission suppression and near-unity emissivity (ε¯ ≈ 0.99).
- Outdoor tests showed daytime temperature reductions of 3-5°C compared to commercial films.
- The PET-based laminate demonstrated high mechanical robustness (69-92 MPa tensile strength).
Conclusions:
- Spectral engineering of greenhouse films is a practical strategy for passive cooling in hot climates.
- The developed films effectively manage the trade-off between transparency and cooling.
- This technology offers a viable solution for enhancing greenhouse productivity in tropical regions.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Absorption of Radiation
The rate of heat transfer by emitted radiation is described by the Stefan-Boltzmann law of radiation:
01:27Atomic Spectroscopy: Effects of Temperature
Atomization, converting samples into gas-phase atoms and ions, is essential for atomic spectroscopy. The flame temperature required for atomization affects the efficiency of the atomic spectroscopic methods by increasing the atomization efficiency and the relative population of the excited and ground states.
At thermal equilibrium, the relative populations of excited and ground state atoms can be estimated using the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. For example, an increase in temperature from...
At thermal equilibrium, the relative populations of excited and ground state atoms can be estimated using the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. For example, an increase in temperature from...
01:20Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II
In convection, thermal energy is carried by the large-scale flow of matter. Ocean currents and large-scale atmospheric circulation, which result from the buoyancy of warm air and water, transfer hot air from the tropics toward the poles and cold air from the poles toward the tropics. The Earth’s rotation interacts with those flows, causing the observed eastward flow of air in the temperate zones. Convection dominates heat transfer by air, and the amount of available space for the airflow...
01:17Radiation: Applications
The average temperature of Earth is the subject of much current discussion. Earth is in radiative contact with both the Sun and dark space; it receives almost all its energy from the radiation of the Sun and reflects some of it into outer space. Dark space is very cold, about 3 K, so Earth radiates energy into it. For instance, heat transfer occurs from soil and grasses, the rate of which can be so rapid that frost can occur on clear summer evenings, even in warm latitudes.
The average...
The average...
01:13Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique used to study the composition of materials. It is widely employed in chemistry, materials science, forensic science, and other fields where sample characterization is required. ATR has several advantages over traditional transmission IR spectroscopy, including the requirement of little to no sample preparation and the ability to analyze a wide range of samples.
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
01:19Mechanism of heat transfer
Understanding heat transfer mechanisms is essential for understanding how our bodies maintain balance in different environmental conditions. When the environment is thermoneutral, the body is in a state of balance, neither using nor releasing energy to maintain its core temperature. However, when the environment is not thermoneutral, the body employs four heat transfer mechanisms to maintain homeostasis: conduction, convection, evaporation, and radiation. These mechanisms facilitate heat...