Atmospheric-moisture-induced polyacrylate hydrogels for hybrid passive cooling.
Roisul Hasan GalibYanpei TianYue LeiSaichao DangXiaole LiArief YudhantoGilles LubineauQiaoqiang GanPublished in: Nature communications (2023)
Heat stress is being exacerbated by global warming, jeopardizing human and social sustainability. As a result, reliable and energy-efficient cooling methods are highly sought-after. Here, we report a polyacrylate film fabricated by self-moisture-absorbing hygroscopic hydrogel for efficient hybrid passive cooling. Using one of the lowest-cost industrial materials (e.g., sodium polyacrylate), we demonstrate radiative cooling by reducing solar heating with high solar reflectance (0.93) while maximizing thermal emission with high mid-infrared emittance (0.99). Importantly, the manufacturing process utilizes only atmospheric moisture and requires no additional chemicals or energy consumption, making it a completely green process. Under sunlight illumination of 800 W m -2 , the surface temperature of the film was reduced by 5 °C under a partly cloudy sky observed at Buffalo, NY. Combined with its hygroscopic feature, this film can simultaneously introduce evaporative cooling that is independent of access to the clear sky. The hybrid passive cooling approach is projected to decrease global carbon emissions by 118.4 billion kg/year compared to current air-conditioning facilities powered by electricity. Given its low-cost raw materials and excellent molding feature, the film can be manufactured through simple and cost-effective roll-to-roll processes, making it suitable for future building construction and personal thermal management needs.
Keyphrases
- heat stress
- low cost
- room temperature
- reduced graphene oxide
- machine learning
- drug delivery
- endothelial cells
- healthcare
- deep learning
- particulate matter
- heavy metals
- hyaluronic acid
- climate change
- high glucose
- heat shock
- extracellular matrix
- drug induced
- tissue engineering
- induced pluripotent stem cells
- stress induced
- pluripotent stem cells
- solid state