Tunable Radiative Cooling by Mechanochromic Electrospun Micro-Nanofiber Matrix.

Abstract

Radiative thermoregulation has been regarded as an energy-efficient method for thermal management. In this study, the development of a mechanoresponsive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-nanofiber matrix capable of both sub-ambient radiative cooling and solar heating is presented, achieved through a core-shell electrospinning technique. The electrospun PDMS micro-nanofibers, with diameters comparable to the solar wavelengths, exhibit excellent solar reflectivity (≈93%) while preserving its pristine high infrared (IR) emissivity. As a result, the electrospun PDMS radiative cooler (EPRC) successfully demonstrated sub-ambient radiative cooling performance (≈3.8°C) during the daytime. Furthermore, the exceptional resilient property of PDMS facilitated the reversible alteration of the structural morphology created by the fiber-based matrix under mechanical force, resulting in the modulation of solar reflectivity (≈80%). The precise modulation of solar reflectivity enabled reversibly switchable multi-step radiative thermoregulation, offering enhanced flexibility in addressing varying thermal environments even in maintaining the desired temperature. The findings of this work offer a promising approach toward dynamic radiative thermoregulation, which holds significant potential for addressing global climate change concerns and energy shortage.