Eco-Friendly Skin-Wrinkle-Inspired Micro-Nano Structured Cellulose Composite Fibers for Highly Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling

Passive radiative cooling fabrics offer a sustainable pathway to reduce energy consumption in thermal management, yet their reliance on petroleum-derived materials and complex coating processes compromises both environmental compatibility and wearability. To address these challenges, we propose a bioinspired, coating-free strategy by designing regenerated cellulose/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticle fibers (RCSF) via wet-spinning. Mimicking the micro-nano structure of the human skin surface (protrusion height ≈ 2 μm), the RCSF achieves simultaneous high solar reflectivity (93.7% at 0.4-1 μm) and infrared emissivity (0.98 at 8-13 μm) through intrinsic material properties rather than external coatings. The hierarchical porous structure enhances the specific surface area while maintaining air permeability (75% improvement vs pristine cellulose fabrics) and moisture-wicking performance. Under 800 W m<sup>-2</sup> solar irradiation, RCSF exhibits a net cooling power of 100.1 W m<sup>-2</sup>, translating to a 5 °C temperature reduction in summer environments compared with regenerated cellulose fibers (RCF). Crucially, this one-step fabrication method eliminates toxic paints and energy-intensive post-treatments, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional coated fabrics. By integrating renewable cellulose with skin-wrinkle-inspired structural design, our work establishes a paradigm for eco-efficient radiative cooling materials that balance optical performance, wearer comfort, and scalable manufacturing.

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Publication Details

Journal
ACS Nano
Published
2025-09-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c06103
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.81
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article

Eco-Friendly Skin-Wrinkle-Inspired Micro-Nano Structured Cellulose Composite Fibers for Highly Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling

Meifang Zhu, Jing Song, Weiqing Kong, Chen Zeng et al.
4 citations
ACS Nano
Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
3.81
article

Eco-Friendly Skin-Wrinkle-Inspired Micro-Nano Structured Cellulose Composite Fibers for Highly Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling

Meifang Zhu, Jing Song, Weiqing Kong, Chen Zeng, Hai-ning Yu, Jianfeng Li, Youwei Zhang, Shufeng Hu, Qihua Li, Yuchen Jiang, Yu Fang
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Passive radiative cooling fabrics offer a sustainable pathway to reduce energy consumption in thermal management, yet their reliance on petroleum-derived materials and complex coating processes compromises both environmental compatibility and wearability. To address these challenges, we propose a bioinspired, coating-free strategy by designing regenerated cellulose/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticle fibers (RCSF) via wet-spinning. Mimicking the micro-nano structure of the human skin surface (protrusion height ≈ 2 μm), the RCSF achieves simultaneous high solar reflectivity (93.7% at 0.4-1 μm) and infrared emissivity (0.98 at 8-13 μm) through intrinsic material properties rather than external coatings. The hierarchical porous structure enhances the specific surface area while maintaining air permeability (75% improvement vs pristine cellulose fabrics) and moisture-wicking performance. Under 800 W m<sup>-2</sup> solar irradiation, RCSF exhibits a net cooling power of 100.1 W m<sup>-2</sup>, translating to a 5 °C temperature reduction in summer environments compared with regenerated cellulose fibers (RCF). Crucially, this one-step fabrication method eliminates toxic paints and energy-intensive post-treatments, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional coated fabrics. By integrating renewable cellulose with skin-wrinkle-inspired structural design, our work establishes a paradigm for eco-efficient radiative cooling materials that balance optical performance, wearer comfort, and scalable manufacturing.

ACS NanoVol. 19(39)
Donghua University (CN), Division of Materials Science and Engineering (AU)
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
3.81
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