Work

Dynamic radiative thermal management materials for sustainable development and carbon neutrality

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Since industrial revolution, the growing global population and rising living standards have substantially increased energy demands. Generally, people use traditional thermal management systems such as air conditioners to maintain indoor thermal comfort, which is a serious cause for atmospheric accumulation of carbon emissions and global warming. Consequently, in order to align with sustainable goals, dynamic radiative thermal management (DRTM) materials, which can intelligently regulate temperature based on inherent properties of natural environment and exhibit minimal reliance on energy-intensive systems, have gained significant attention in recent years. These materials enable reversible switching between cooling and heating modes by actively tuning their thermal radiative properties on demand and thus can be applied in multiple scenarios. Herein, we reviewed key milestones in the development of DRTM materials, which were categorized by their stimuli mechanisms. Also, we discussed their contributions to sustainability and carbon neutrality, along with existing challenges and future perspectives.

Source: National Science Open

DOI: 10.1360/nso/20250045

Authors: Jin Zhang, Hexiang Han, Weirong Xie, Di Zhang, Han Zhou

Institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology

Language: English

Topic: Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China