Cellulose-Based Hybrid Structural Material for Radiative Cooling

Structural materials with excellent mechanical properties are vitally important for architectural application. However, the traditional structural materials with complex manufacturing processes cannot effectively regulate heat flow, causing a large impact on global energy consumption. Here, we processed a high-performance and inexpensive cooling structural material by bottom-up assembling delignified biomass cellulose fiber and inorganic microspheres into a 3D network bulk followed by a hot-pressing process; we constructed a cooling lignocellulosic bulk that exhibits strong mechanical strength more than eight times that of the pure wood fiber bulk and greater specific strength than the majority of structural materials. The cellulose acts as a photonic solar reflector and thermal emitter, enabling a material that can accomplish 24-h continuous cooling with an average dT of 6 and 8 degrees C during day and night, respectively. Combined with excellent fire-retardant and outdoor antibacterial performance, it will pave the way for the design of high-performance cooling structural materials.

Automated summary

In this study, a high-performance and inexpensive cooling structural material was developed by assembling delignified biomass cellulose fiber and inorganic microspheres. The material exhibited strong mechanical strength, excellent cooling properties, fire-retardant characteristics, and outdoor antibacterial performance, making it a promising candidate for high-performance cooling structural materials.