A solution-processed inorganic emitter with high spectral selectivity for efficient subambient radiative cooling in hot humid climates

Abstract

Daytime radiative cooling provides an eco-friendly solution to space cooling with zero energy consumption. Despite significant advances, most state-of-the-art radiative coolers show broadband infrared emission with low spectral selectivity, which limits their cooling temperatures, especially in hot humid regions. Here we report an all-inorganic narrowband emitter comprising a solution-derived SiOxNy layer sandwiched between a reflective substrate and a self-assembly monolayer of SiO2 microspheres. It shows a high and diffusive solar reflectance (96.4%) and strong infrared-selective emittance (94.6%) with superior spectral selectivity (1.46). Remarkable subambient cooling of up to 5°C in autumn and 2.5°C in summer are achieved under high humidity without any solar shading or convection cover at noontime in a subtropical coastal city, Hong Kong. Owing to the all-inorganic hydrophobic structure, the emitter shows outstanding resistance to ultraviolet and water in the long-term durability tests. The scalable solution-based fabrication renders this stable high-performance emitter promising for large-scale deployment in various climates.