| Abstract Scope |
We are surrounded by thermally emitted light. The radiative heat transfer mediated by these electromagnetic waves is ubiquitous yet has largely been ignored as a means of mitigating climate change. In this talk, we will explore recent innovations in controlling room-temperature thermal radiation enabled by nanophotonic materials and metamaterials. As a case study, we will introduce our body of work on radiative cooling to the sky, a natural phenomenon that has, until recently, not been actively exploited for energy efficiency at large scales. We will describe our origination of daytime radiative cooling, where tailored photonic surfaces can exhibit ultra-high solar reflectance as well as selective infrared emission at wavelengths where the atmosphere is most transparent. Recent applications of radiative cooling to improving the thermodynamic efficiency of a range of technologies including vapor-compression cooling systems, solar cells, water technologies as well as building materials more generally will also be discussed. |