Biomimetic Photonic Multiform Composite for High-Performance Radiative Cooling

• Nanostructures on bodies of biological inhabitants in severe environments can exhibit excellent thermoregulation, which provide inspirations for artificial radiative cooling materials. However, achieving both large-scale manufacturing and flexible form-compatibility to various applications needs remains as a formidable challenge. Here a biomimetic strategy is adopted to design a thermal photonic composite inspired by the previously unexplored golden cicada's evolutionarily optimized thermoregulatory ability. A microimprint combined with phase separation method is developed for fabricating a biomimetic photonic material made of porous polymer–ceramic composite profiled in microhumps. The composite demonstrates high solar reflectance (97.6%) and infrared emissivity (95.5%) in atmospheric window, which results in a cooling power of 78 W m−2 and a maximum subambient temperature drop of 6.6 °C at noon. Moreover, the technique facilitates multiform manufacturing of the composites beyond films, as demonstrated by additive printing into general 3D structures. This work offers biomimetic approach for developing high-performance thermal regulation materials and devices. 

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Rymd- och flygteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Aerospace Engineering (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Bearbetnings-, yt- och fogningsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Manufacturing, Surface and Joining Technology (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Kompositmaterial och -teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Composite Science and Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

3D printing

bioinspired materials

radiative cooling

thermal photonic structures

Biomimetic processes

Functional polymers

Manufacture

Phase separation

Atmospheric window

Biomimetic approaches

Biomimetic strategy

Infrared emissivity

Large-scale manufacturing

Photonic materials

Separation methods

Thermal regulation

Composite structures

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)