In a Chinese materials science lab, researchers have developed an innovative textile that harnesses sunlight to cool the wearer, requiring no electricity, fans, or chemicals. Utilizing radiative cooling, this fabric could redefine clothing for hot and humid environments.
Crafted from a layered polymer composite embedded with nanoparticles, the fabric reflects visible sunlight while emitting body heat as infrared radiation, effectively channeling warmth away from the skin and into space.
Outdoor tests showed wearers stayed 5 to 7°C cooler than those in cotton or synthetic fabrics, even in direct sunlight. Unlike moisture-wicking materials, this textile cools independently of sweat or humidity, maintaining effectiveness in muggy conditions.
Breathable, washable, and visually indistinguishable from regular clothing, the fabric is produced using scalable roll-to-roll methods, making it suitable for commercial fashion, workwear, military uniforms, tents, and blankets in hot climates.
Already in trials for construction gear and heat-stress suits, this passive cooling technology could save lives as global temperatures climb, reducing reliance on air conditioning.
After millennia of clothing for warmth, we’re now weaving fabrics that keep us cool.
In a Chinese materials science lab, researchers have developed an innovative textile that harnesses sunlight to cool the wearer, requiring no electricity, fans, or chemicals. Utilizing radiative cooling, this fabric could redefine clothing for hot and humid environments.
