Colorful Janus Metafabric Enabled by Dual-Gradient Wrinkle Microstructures for Personal Thermal and Moisture Management

Abstract

The growing global demand for energy for temperature regulation underscores the urgency of developing advanced personal thermal management textiles. However, current radiative cooling/heating materials often lack dynamic adaptability, efficient moisture management, diverse coloration, and satisfactory wearing comfort. Herein, we present colorful Janus metafabrics (CJMs) engineered via scalable solution-dyeing electrospinning, featuring a dual-gradient structure for radiative cooling and solar heating, and directional sweat transport. The metafabric consists of a hydrophobic carbon black/polyurethane (CB/PU) heating layer and a superhydrophilic aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃)/pigment-doped PU cooling layer. The cooling side exhibits approximately 95% MIR emittance, > 85% NIR reflectance, and 86% solar reflectance (yellow) due to synergistic Al₂O₃ scattering and dyeing (67%–86%), compensating for the limitations of conventional dyes. The heating side achieves around 95% solar absorptance for efficient photothermal conversion. Outdoor tests demonstrate significant cooling ΔT = 17.6 °C and heating ΔT = 13.3 °C effects compared to bare simulated skin. Asymmetric wrinkles enhance optical properties and facilitate rapid directional moisture transport, with a one-way transfer index reaching 1163%. CJMs are ultralight, flexible (153%–175% strain), soft, and feature Janus textures, ensuring wearing comfort. This work provides a versatile design integrating energy efficiency, physiological comfort, and aesthetic diversity, offering a promising pathway toward next-generation smart textiles.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Colorful Janus metafabrics / Dual-gradient structure / Wrinkle structure / Radiative thermal management / Directional sweat transport

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Funding

Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52073052)

Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(SMEC-AI-DHUZ-06)

Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(21130750100)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China