Self-Sustaining Hybrid Passive Cooler Enabling Highly Effective Thermal Management for Outdoor Electronics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Thermal Engineering
• Sustainable Technology

Background:

• Outdoor electronics face operational challenges due to intense solar radiation and thermal shocks.
• Effective thermal management is crucial for the reliability and longevity of outdoor electronic infrastructure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative hybrid passive cooler (HPC) for effective outdoor electronics thermal management.
• To address the limitations of current cooling solutions under combined solar radiation and thermal shock conditions.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a porous vapor-permeable radiative cooling coating and an autonomous atmospheric moisture-harvesting hydrogel within a melamine sponge skeleton.
• Synergistic utilization of radiative cooling, sensible-heat absorption, and latent-heat evaporation for thermal management.

Main Results:

• The HPC maintained an average temperature 8.3°C below ambient under continuous solar irradiation.
• Achieved a maximum temperature drop of ~42.4°C during intense thermal shock (2000 W·m⁻² for 30 min).
• Demonstrated stable thermal management for ~3 hours using its moisture-harvesting capability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed HPC offers an efficient, sustainable, and scalable solution for outdoor electronics thermal management.
• The hybrid approach effectively mitigates heat stress from solar radiation and thermal shocks.
• Autonomous moisture harvesting enhances the cooler's performance and reliability in diverse environmental conditions.