Radiative cooling technology has been gaining attention as an eco-friendly cooling option that can help reduce the need for power-hungry air conditioners. However, traditional radiative cooling materials for daytime use are typically white to minimize sunlight absorption. While effective for cooling, these materials lack aesthetics and are not suitable for use in buildings or vehicles that require multiple colors.
In response to this challenge, Dr. Jin Gu Kang and his team at the Nanophotonics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed a groundbreaking colorful radiation-cooling liquid crystal material. This new material not only cools without external power but also emits color, addressing the need for both cooling performance and aesthetics.
The team achieved this by fabricating bent spiral liquid crystal photonic crystals. By using a commercial liquid crystal material (LC242) and aligning it into a spiral structure, the researchers were able to create colored photonic crystals that emit vivid colors. Unlike traditional photonic crystals, which produce different colors depending on the angle, this new material provides consistent and vibrant colors.
By combining the colored radiation-cooling liquid crystal material with a transparent upper film and a metallic lower film, the researchers were able to achieve a temperature reduction of about 30.8°C compared to traditional colored paint. This innovative material has the potential to reduce air conditioning consumption in buildings and vehicles while also providing power-free cooling for outdoor leisure items and military tents.
Dr. Jin Gu Kang emphasized the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the fabrication process, stating that the colored radiation-cooling liquid crystal material can be quickly produced through a low-cost spin coating process. This breakthrough in cooling technology not only offers a sustainable alternative to traditional air conditioning but also adds a colorful and aesthetically pleasing element to cooling solutions.
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