A Visible-Opaque Infrared-Modulator Fabric for Human Body Thermoregulation at Low Temperatures
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Optimizing textiles for enhanced passive radiative thermoregulation properties represents a significant step forward in technological innovation. To achieve this goal, we fabricated and characterized a visible-opaque infrared-modulator fabric (VOIMF) that can provide the human body with continuous thermoregulation at low temperatures. The fabric is a bilayer emitter composed of a polyethylene (PE) membrane and an ultrathin gold (Au) layer. The PE membrane contains randomly dispersed titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) microparticles (MPs). By flipping the fabric, we demonstrate that the VOIMF can modulate the emissivity toward the environment in the mid-infrared range, thereby providing a thermal comfort zone over a large temperature range of ∼ 10 ° C (from 6.7 to 16.8 °C). Moreover, the VOIMF is opaque in the visible (VIS) range and exhibits a white appearance, similar to cotton, due to the high light scattering property of TiO 2 MPs.
Source: ACS Omega
Authors: Mohamed Boutghatin, Claire Pirim, Valérie Gaucher, Yannick Coffinier, Bahram Djafari Rouhani, Vincent Thomy, Yan Pennec, Michele Carette
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Lille, Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie, Centrale Lille Institut, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Unité Matériaux et Transformations
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,935
OpenAlex ID: W7127044871