Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers
Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) as a zero-energy cooling technology that reflects most of sunlight and emits infrared thermal radiation to outer space, has attracted much attention. However, most PDRC materials suffer dust accumulation problem during long-term use, seriously detrimental to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Nanophotonics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0198 |
| _version_ | 1797800815233073152 |
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| author | Jiang Yi Wang Jiahao Zhou Yaya Li Jinlei Chen Zipeng Yao Pengcheng Ge Haixiong Zhu Bin |
| author_facet | Jiang Yi Wang Jiahao Zhou Yaya Li Jinlei Chen Zipeng Yao Pengcheng Ge Haixiong Zhu Bin |
| author_sort | Jiang Yi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) as a zero-energy cooling technology that reflects most of sunlight and emits infrared thermal radiation to outer space, has attracted much attention. However, most PDRC materials suffer dust accumulation problem during long-term use, seriously detrimental to their cooling performance. Here, we demonstrate a micro-structured polyethylene film fabricated through a scalable hot embossing lithography (named HELPE), enables good superhydrophobic property and therefore excellent self-cleaning performance as a universal protective layer for most PDRC materials. Specifically, the precisely designed three-dimensional periodic micron columns on polyethylene film allow for high water droplet contact angle of 151°, and the intrinsic molecular bindings of polyethylene endow low solar absorption (A = 3.3 %) and high mid-infrared transmission (T = 82.3 %) for negligible optical impacts on underlying PDRC materials. Taking polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) radiative cooler as an example, when covered with the HELPE film the net cooling performance maintains unchanged (7.5 °C in daytime and 4.5 °C in nighttime) compared to that without HELPE film. After 12 days continuous outdoor experiment, none of obvious dust accumulation can be observed on the radiative cooler covered with HELPE film. Our work offers a universal pathway for most PDRC materials toward practical applications with minimal maintenance need. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:40:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-00b25f661c8f4a9f92a5030bfb6125a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2192-8614 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:40:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanophotonics |
| spelling | doaj.art-00b25f661c8f4a9f92a5030bfb6125a32023-06-19T05:53:25ZengDe GruyterNanophotonics2192-86142023-05-0112122213222010.1515/nanoph-2023-0198Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolersJiang Yi0Wang Jiahao1Zhou Yaya2Li Jinlei3Chen Zipeng4Yao Pengcheng5Ge Haixiong6Zhu Bin7National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. ChinaPassive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) as a zero-energy cooling technology that reflects most of sunlight and emits infrared thermal radiation to outer space, has attracted much attention. However, most PDRC materials suffer dust accumulation problem during long-term use, seriously detrimental to their cooling performance. Here, we demonstrate a micro-structured polyethylene film fabricated through a scalable hot embossing lithography (named HELPE), enables good superhydrophobic property and therefore excellent self-cleaning performance as a universal protective layer for most PDRC materials. Specifically, the precisely designed three-dimensional periodic micron columns on polyethylene film allow for high water droplet contact angle of 151°, and the intrinsic molecular bindings of polyethylene endow low solar absorption (A = 3.3 %) and high mid-infrared transmission (T = 82.3 %) for negligible optical impacts on underlying PDRC materials. Taking polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) radiative cooler as an example, when covered with the HELPE film the net cooling performance maintains unchanged (7.5 °C in daytime and 4.5 °C in nighttime) compared to that without HELPE film. After 12 days continuous outdoor experiment, none of obvious dust accumulation can be observed on the radiative cooler covered with HELPE film. Our work offers a universal pathway for most PDRC materials toward practical applications with minimal maintenance need.https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0198infrared transparentmicro-structured polyethylene filmradiative coolingself-cleaning |
| spellingShingle | Jiang Yi Wang Jiahao Zhou Yaya Li Jinlei Chen Zipeng Yao Pengcheng Ge Haixiong Zhu Bin Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers Nanophotonics infrared transparent micro-structured polyethylene film radiative cooling self-cleaning |
| title | Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers |
| title_full | Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers |
| title_fullStr | Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers |
| title_short | Micro-structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self-cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers |
| title_sort | micro structured polyethylene film as an optically selective and self cleaning layer for enhancing durability of radiative coolers |
| topic | infrared transparent micro-structured polyethylene film radiative cooling self-cleaning |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0198 |
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