Silver Nanowire-Patterned, Freeze-Casted PVDF Aerogel for Simultaneous Passive Radiative Cooling and Airflow Sensing

This study presents a freeze-casted polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) aerogel designed for passive radiative cooling, integrated with locally patterned silver nanowires (AgNWs) for simultaneous airflow sensing. By controlling the freezing conditions during fabrication, the pore size of the aerogel was optimized to enhance solar reflectance and infrared emittance. In addition, AgNWs were locally deposited on the aerogel surface to provide electrical conductivity for airflow sensing while minimizing interference with its optical characteristics. With a temperature coefficient of resistance of 0.33%/°C, the patterned AgNWs enabled real-time monitoring of airflow velocity via resistance changes. This additional functionality allows the PVDF aerogel to serve as a platform for analyzing convective effects during radiative cooling in outdoor environments.