Solar Light Responsive Leather for Personal Thermal Management with Unidirectional Moisture Transport Properties

The sustainable utilization of leather resources is critical for eco-friendly and energy-efficient clothing. To address thermal comfort challenges in varying winter conditions, we developed a solar light responsive composite leather (MPLPP) with unidirectional moisture transport. This approach utilizes a facile surface engineering strategy: hydrophobic PDMS impregnation of suede leather, followed by brush-coating hydrophilic MXene@PDA on one side and spraying PDMS on the opposite side to create a wettability gradient. The MXene-PDA synergy achieves 93.9% solar absorption and 37.2% mid-infrared emissivity for efficient photothermal conversion with minimal radiative heat loss. The wettability contrast drives unidirectional moisture transport (index: 530%), promoting rapid sweat evaporation. MPLPP also exhibits electromagnetic interference shielding (∼32 dB), water vapor transmission (1039 g·m–2·24 h–1), air permeability (2195 mL·cm–2·h–1), and satisfactory mechanical flexibility. This study provides a sustainable method for high-value leather utilization and offers new insights into multifunctional energy-efficient materials.