Dynamically Self-adaptive Metafabrics with Phase-Change Material-Enhanced Radiative Cooling for Thermo-hygrometric Regulation

Abstract

Reducing energy consumption plays a crucial role in promoting global sustainable development. However, achieving multifunctional collaborative thermal management for both efficient cooling and adaptive temperature regulation remains challenging. Herein, we report a phase-change material-enhanced passive radiative cooling (PCM–PRC) metafabric that integrates radiative cooling, evaporative cooling, and phase-change thermoregulation in a single system. The PCM–PRC exhibits excellent spectral selectivity (97% sunlight reflectivity, 94% selective infrared emissivity), along with high air and moisture permeability. Cooling experiments revealed that under mid-day sunlight (72.5 mW·cm⁻² solar intensity) on a sunny day, the PCM–PRC metafabric achieved a 14.4 °C average temperature reduction, significantly outperforming conventional radiative fabrics. Its hierarchical wettability gradient enabled a high water–vapor transmission rate of 0.35 g·cm⁻²·day⁻¹, thus triggering rapid sweat evaporation and efficient evaporation cooling. Furthermore, the incorporation of phase-change materials enables PCM–PRC with excellent adaptive thermoregulation performance under extreme temperature conditions (60 °C and 7 °C), combined with superior wearing comfort, air permeability, and long-term stability. These results provide a novel strategy for designing smart thermal management textiles with potential applications in adaptive thermal regulation, thermal and humidity comfort management and sustainable energy conservation.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Passive radiative cooling / Phase-change material / Adaptive thermal management / Evaporative cooling / Metafabric

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Funding

Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52203124)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China