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Researchers have developed a metal-free disordered photonic material that selectively emits heat in the long-wave infrared spectrum while reflecting ultraviolet to far-infrared radiation. The material uses a layered, multiscale scattering architecture designed through absorption-scattering competition principles, achieving high long-wave infrared emittance (0.88), strong solar reflectance (0.97), and low thermal emittance outside the target range (0.49). Field tests demonstrated enhanced radiative cooling and seasonal thermoregulation performance compared to existing broadband radiative coolers.
Why it matters
This technology enables passive cooling in hot environments and partial insulation in cold conditions without requiring metal reflectors, making it more cost-effective and practical for deployment. It offers a scalable platform for energy savings and improved thermal comfort in buildings through passive radiative thermal management.
arXiv:2603.02513v2 Announce Type: replace
Abstract: A surface that selectively emits heat in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) can enable passive cooling in hot environments while retaining partial radiative insulation in cold conditions. However, its cost-effectiveness, practical deployment, and fundamentally, the optical design, remain limited by the reliance on metal reflectors. To overcome this limitation, here we use an absorption-scattering competition factor to establish design guidelines for enhancing reflection or absorption in disordered media across the ultrabroadband ultraviolet-to-far-infrared range. Based on electromagnetic simulations and the optical constants of real materials, we then propose disordered photonic media with a layered, multiscale scattering architecture which, unlike typical scattering designs, simultaneously attains ultraviolet-to-far-infrared reflection and selective LWIR emission. We validate this approach by developing a metal-free selective emitter that exhibits high LWIR emittance (0.88), strong solar reflectance (0.97), and low thermal emittance outside the LWIR (0.49), independent of substrates. Field tests, supported by theoretical modelling, show both enhanced radiative cooling and seasonal thermoregulation performance relative to a state-of-the-art broadband radiative cooler. By expanding the spectral functionality of disordered scattering media as a scalable and low-cost optical materials platform across the solar-to-thermal infrared waveband, this work provides a pathway towards improved energy savings and thermal comfort through passive radiative thermal management.