Elastic PVDF-HFP-Based Aerogel for Efficient Passive Radiative Cooling and Thermal Insulation

Polymer-based aerogels exhibit high thermal management performance including insulation and passive radiative cooling. However, the lack of elasticity limits their application. Herein, we developed an elastic poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)-based aerogel (PFHS) for efficient thermal management. PFHS achieves a low thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/(m·K), a high solar reflectance of 98.18%, and a mid-infrared emissivity of 96.85%, as well as high hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 140°. PFHS exhibits a high temperature reduction of 9.8 °C and an outdoor daytime cooling power of 116.68 W/m2 under an average solar irradiance of 821.14 W/m2. It also has superior thermal insulation performance under cold (-20 °C) and hot (60 °C) conditions. Moreover, PFHS has excellent weather resistance and thermal stability. These attributes establish PFHS as a promising prospect for the efficient thermal and environmental management of buildings and outdoor facilities, offering a new strategy for the development of multifunctional polymer aerogels.