Recent Advances in Radiative Cooling: From Fundamentals to Commercial Applications
Radiative cooling (RC) is a sustainable technology that passively lowers the temperature of terrestrial objects through thermal radiation, dissipating heat into outer space via the atmospheric window, unlike conventional cooling systems that require electricity and release waste heat to the environment. In recent years, RC technologies have advanced rapidly, moving steadily toward practical implementation and commercialization. Here, this mega-review offers a comprehensive overview of RC, encompassing its fundamental background, the underlying photonic and thermal principles, and fabrication approaches for constructing efficient cooling devices. We discuss a variety of RC structures along with their design strategies and explore the diverse functionalities that adapt RC toward particular requirements. We further review emerging applications of RC, highlighting practical implementations. Finally, we outline the key challenges and future directions, offering perspectives and insights to guide continued progress in this rapidly advancing field.
Authors
- Xuzhe Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8924-0777)
- Junkyeong Park
- Yong Tae Kang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6623-1624)
- Saichao Dang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5466-8412)
- Bin Zhu
- Sunae So (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8606-2234)
- Changhyeon Lim
- Yansu Hou
- Trevon Badloe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9458-6062)
- Chi Yan Tso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7725-2172)
- Shaowen Cao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4556-2341)
- Dong Rip Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6398-9483)
- Shengxi Bai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5419-8396)
- Kaixin Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2297-4792)
- Harit Keawmuang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8371-5321)
- Longnan Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0225-3303)
- Kaichen Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5334-4243)
- Jung Bin Yang
- Qingsong Fan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8555-769X)
- Qizhang Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5454-4578)
- Wei Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2227-9431)
- Jiachen Li
- Juhoon Baek
- Seonggon Kim
- Chang Ju Hyeon
- Minseo Jeong
- Rufan Zhang
- Po-Chun Hsu
- Seokju Choi
- Hyunkyu Kwak
- Yi Long
- Fei Xie
- Qiaoqiang Gan
- Junsuk Rho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2179-2890)
- Heon Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6635-1880)
- Dasol Lee
- Ya Huang
- Siming Zhao
Institutions
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (KR)
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
- City University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Pohang Iron and Steel (South Korea) (KR)
- Yonsei University (KR)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Zen-Noh (Japan) (JP)
- Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
- University of Chicago (US)
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CN)
- Applied Thermal Sciences (United States) (US)
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (US)
- Tsinghua–Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (CN)
- Robotics Research (United States) (US)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy (GB)
- Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (US)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures (CN)
- Convergence (US)
- Green Chemistry (PL)
- Double Helix (United States) (US)
- Sustainable Energy Systems (United Kingdom) (GB)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Hanyang University (KR)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA)
- Sungkyunkwan University (KR)
- Nanjing University (CN)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
- Published
- 2026-04-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6c00074
- Primary Topic
- Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- University Grants Committee
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
- China National Petroleum Corporation
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee
- Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Environment and Conservation Fund
- Nanjing University
- Korea Electric Power Corporation
- Innovation and Technology Fund
- Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality
- Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
- Hong Kong Government
- Science and Technology Department of Hubei Province
- Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning
- National Key Research and Development Program of China
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
- Jilin Scientific and Technological Development Program
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School