Scalable Fabrication of Dual-Function Fabric for Zero-Energy Thermal Environmental Management through Multiband, Synergistic, and Asymmetric Optical Modulations.

Abstract

Solar heating and radiative cooling techniques have been proposed for passive space thermal management to reduce the global energy burden. However, the currently used single-function envelope/coating materials can only achieve static temperature regulation, presenting limited energy savings and poor adaption to dynamic environments. In this study, a sandwich-structured fabric, composed of vertical graphene, graphene glass fiber fabric, and polyacrylonitrile nanofibers is developed, with heating and cooling functions integrated through multiband, synergistic, (solar spectrum and mid-infrared ranges) and asymmetric optical modulations on two sides of the fabric. The dual-function fabric demonstrates high adaption to the dynamic environment and superior performance in a zero-energy-input temperature regulation. Furthermore, it demonstrates ≈15.5 and ≈31.1MJ m-2 y-1 higher annual energy savings compared to those of their cooling-only and heating-only counterparts, corresponding to ≈173.7 MT reduction in the global CO2 emission. The fabric exhibits high scalability for batch manufacturing with commercially abundant raw materials and facile technologies, providing a favorable guarantee of its mass production and use.