Research Highlights
Radiative cooling: zero-energy-consumption cooling technology
Air conditioners consume 13% of global electricity for space cooling in buildings. As the energy consumption by air conditioners is projected to be tripled by 2050, an energy-efficient cooling solution is urgently demanded. Daytime sub-ambient radiative cooling is a zero-energy-consumption cooling technology that can cool a surface temperature below ambient air, even under exposed to the sunshine. Leveraging scalable manufacturing techniques, we have demonstrated day-time sub-ambient radiative cooling thin film (Science 355, 1062(2017)), structural material (Science 364, 760 (2019)) as well as kilo-watt scale radiative cooled and storage system (Joule 3, 111 (2019)) for large scale thermal management. We will continue to explore novel energy-efficient materials for building technology, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability.
Selected publications
1. Y. Zhai#, Y. Ma#, S. N. David, D. Zhao, R. Lou, G. Tan, R. Yang, X. Yin, Scalable-manufactured randomized glass-polymer hybrid metamaterial for daytime radiative cooling. Science 355, 1062 (2017) Top 10 physics breakthrough of the year 2017, Institute of Physics Physics World, Highlighted in Perspective article in Science.
2. T. Li#, Y. Zhai#, S. He#, et al, A radiative cooling structural material. Science. 364, 760 (2019)
3. D. Zhao, A. Aili, Y. Zhai, et al, Subambient Cooling of Water: Toward Real-World Applications of Daytime Radiative Cooling. Joule. 3, 111 (2019)
4. D. Zhao, A. Aili, Y. Zhai, et al, Radiative sky cooling: Fundamental principles, materials, and applications. Appl. Phys. Rev. 6, 021306 (2019)
Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors