Recent advancements in radiative cooling textiles for personal thermal management

Abstract

To meet the increasing need for outdoor personal thermal management (PTM) since the intensified global warming, radiative cooling (RC) textiles with tunable solar reflectivity and mid-infrared emissivity/transmissivity attributes can dynamically adjust the microenvironment of the human body to provide a cooling effect without consumption of electrical energy, in contrast to the traditional heat preservation function of commercial clothes. In this review, we summarize recent advances in RC textiles from basic mechanisms, construction methods to emerging applications. The underlying mechanisms of optical absorption/reflection and heat emission properties and typical efficient structures are first discussed to comprehend the principles of RC techniques. The corresponding construction strategies for modifying textile materials and structures for improved passive cooling performance are then highlighted. The various applications of RC textiles are also reviewed to demonstrate their practicability and versatility, such as smart clothing, object cooling, enhanced electricity generation, etc. Eventually, we will give a brief outlook on the current challenges and future development of RC textiles. This review intends to provide a better understanding of RC techniques for functional textile design and fabrication.