Wood-Based and Wood-Inspired Thermal Management Materials

Abstract

Given the global resource constraints and substantial energy consumption, the innovative development of efficient and precise thermal management materials represents a significant step forward in improving energy efficiency and promoting ecological and environmental sustainability. The unique structure of natural wood with its porous anisotropy provides new insights and strategies for the design of advanced thermal management materials. However, present reviews often fail to provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the inherent structural advantages, as well as the strategies pertinent to the construction and utilization of wood-based and biomimetic materials. This review explores the evolution of wood and its biomimetic structures in the field of thermal management materials, detailing the basic structures and compositions of wood and timber, as well as explaining how these materials can be processed and constructed with physical/chemical strategies. In addition, we highlight recent advances in such materials in the fields of thermal insulation, radiative cooling, heat transfer, and thermal energy storage. Finally, we offer some unique insights on the challenges and future developments for the scale-up of the use of such materials, providing our perspectives on their potential for broader implementation.

Keywords

Wood / Wood-inspired / Thermal management / Biomass / Energy conversion / Renewable resource

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2025 SIOC, CAS, Shanghai, & WILEY-VCH GmbH.