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Nanoporous polyethylene microfibres for large-scale radiative cooling fabric

Author

Listed:
  • Yucan Peng

    (Stanford University)

  • Jun Chen

    (Stanford University)

  • Alex Y. Song

    (Stanford University)

  • Peter B. Catrysse

    (Stanford University)

  • Po-Chun Hsu

    (Stanford University)

  • Lili Cai

    (Stanford University)

  • Bofei Liu

    (Stanford University)

  • Yangying Zhu

    (Stanford University)

  • Guangmin Zhou

    (Stanford University)

  • David S. Wu

    (Stanford University)

  • Hye Ryoung Lee

    (Stanford University)

  • Shanhui Fan

    (Stanford University)

  • Yi Cui

    (Stanford University
    SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

Abstract

Global warming and energy crises severely limit the ability of human civilization to develop along a sustainable path. Increasing renewable energy sources and decreasing energy consumption are fundamental steps to achieve sustainability. Technological innovations that allow energy-saving behaviour can support sustainable development pathways. Energy-saving fabrics with a superior cooling effect and satisfactory wearability properties provide a novel way of saving the energy used by indoor cooling systems. Here, we report the large-scale extrusion of uniform and continuous nanoporous polyethylene (nanoPE) microfibres with cotton-like softness for industrial fabric production. The nanopores embedded in the fibre effectively scatter visible light to make it opaque without compromising the mid-infrared transparency. Moreover, using industrial machines, the nanoPE microfibres are utilized to mass produce fabrics. Compared with commercial cotton fabric of the same thickness, the nanoPE fabric exhibits a great cooling power, lowering the human skin temperature by 2.3 °C, which corresponds to a greater than 20% saving on indoor cooling energy. Besides the superior cooling effect, the nanoPE fabric also displays impressive wearability and durability. As a result, nanoPE microfibres represent basic building blocks to revolutionize fabrics for human body cooling and pave an innovative way to sustainable energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Yucan Peng & Jun Chen & Alex Y. Song & Peter B. Catrysse & Po-Chun Hsu & Lili Cai & Bofei Liu & Yangying Zhu & Guangmin Zhou & David S. Wu & Hye Ryoung Lee & Shanhui Fan & Yi Cui, 2018. "Nanoporous polyethylene microfibres for large-scale radiative cooling fabric," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(2), pages 105-112, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:1:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1038_s41893-018-0023-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0023-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Gong, Quan & Lu, Lin & Chen, Jianheng, 2023. "Design and performance investigation of a novel self-adaptive radiative cooling module for thermal regulation in buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    2. Shan, He & Poredoš, Primož & Zou, Hao & Lv, Haotian & Wang, Ruzhu, 2023. "Perspectives for urban microenvironment sustainability enabled by decentralized water-energy-food harvesting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    3. Wei, Wei & Wu, Bo & Guo, Yang & Hu, Yunhao & Liao, Yihui & Wu, Chunmao & Zhang, Qinghong & Li, Yaogang & Chen, Jianhui & Hou, Chengyi & Wang, Hongzhi, 2023. "A multimodal cooling garment for personal thermal comfort management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).

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