Radiative cooling for passive thermal management towards sustainable carbon neutrality

Photonic structures at the wavelength scale offer innovative energy solutions for a wide range of applications, from high-efficiency photovoltaics to passive cooling, thus reshaping the global energy landscape. Radiative cooling based on structural and material design presents new opportunities for sustainable carbon neutrality as a zero-energy, ecologically friendly cooling strategy. In this review, in addition to introducing the fundamentals of the basic theory of radiative cooling technology, typical radiative cooling materials alongside their cooling effects over recent years are summarized and the current research status of radiative cooling materials is outlined and discussed. Furthermore, technical challenges and potential advancements for radiative cooling are forecast with an outline of future application scenarios and development trends. In the future, radiative cooling is expected to make a significant contribution to global energy saving and emission reduction. With global warming and excessive energy consumption, radiative cooling technology presents new opportunities for sustainable carbon neutrality as a zero-energy, eco-friendly cooling strategy.

Automated summary

Photonic structures at the wavelength scale provide innovative energy solutions for various applications, reshaping the global energy landscape. Radiative cooling technology, based on structural and material design, offers opportunities for sustainable carbon neutrality as a zero-energy, eco-friendly cooling strategy. This review summarizes the fundamentals of radiative cooling technology, typical cooling materials, and their effects, discusses the research status and challenges, and outlines future application scenarios and development trends. Radiative cooling is expected to significantly contribute to global energy saving and emission reduction.