Bilayer Nanoporous Polyethylene Membrane with Anisotropic Wettability for Rapid Water Transportation/Evaporation and Radiative Cooling.

Abstract

Both sweat drainage and evaporation play important roles in achieving personal moisture and thermal management during sweat-producing exercises. However, it remains a great challenge to simultaneously realize thermal management through radiative cooling for human body without perspiration. Herein, we report a bilayer nanoporous polyethylene membrane with anisotropic wettability, which possesses superior radiative cooling ability (∼2.6 °C lower than that of cotton) without perspiration. Meanwhile, it realizes efficient sweat drainage and good evaporation cooling property (∼1.0 °C lower than that of cotton) in perspiration to avoid sticky and hot sensation. In addition, it can also block water and fine particulate matter owing to the hydrophobic nanoporous structure. By virtue of the outstanding personal thermal and moisture management performance, it is expected that this study provides inspiration for designing new clothing and medical protective suits with more comfortable microclimates and reducing energy consumption for global sustainability.