Hierarchically Designed Electrospun Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling Metafabric Enabling Moisture Transport and Fire...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) textiles offer thermal management by reflecting sunlight and emitting heat.
• Current PDRC textiles face limitations in solar scattering, moisture transport, and fire safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional electrospun metafabric with optimized cooling, comfort, and fire safety.
• To address the practical limitations of existing PDRC textiles.

Main Methods:

• Hierarchical structural design and compositional optimization of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers.
• Incorporation of subwavelength roughness and Barium Sulfate (BaSO4) particles for enhanced scattering and Mie resonances.
• Dynamic wetting techniques for improved moisture management.

Main Results:

• Achieved 94.0% solar reflectance and 91.2% mid-infrared emissivity.
• Demonstrated ~7.1°C reduction in skin temperature in outdoor tests.
• Predicted 40%-58% cooling-energy savings in building simulations.
• Reduced perspiration burden by 77.1% compared to cotton.
• Exhibited low total heat release (4.8 kJ·g⁻¹) and high char residue (45.0%) for fire safety.

Conclusions:

• The developed metafabric integrates high cooling efficiency, physiological comfort, and enhanced fire safety.
• This sustainable textile design offers a promising solution for occupational and emergency wear.
• The multifunctional PDRC textile advances the practical application of radiative cooling technology.