Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling
Daytime radiative cooling, based on selective infrared emissions through atmospheric transparency windows to outer space and the reflection of solar irradiance, is a zero-energy and environmentally friendly cooling technology. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrospun membranes have both selective mid-...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Haiyan Zhang Qingpeng Wang Zhiguang Xu Yan Zhao |
| author_facet | Haiyan Zhang Qingpeng Wang Zhiguang Xu Yan Zhao |
| author_sort | Haiyan Zhang |
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| description | Daytime radiative cooling, based on selective infrared emissions through atmospheric transparency windows to outer space and the reflection of solar irradiance, is a zero-energy and environmentally friendly cooling technology. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrospun membranes have both selective mid-infrared emissions and effective sunlight reflection, inducing excellent daytime radiative cooling performance. However, PEO is highly water soluble, which makes electrospun PEO membranes unable to cope with rainy conditions when used for outdoor daytime radiative cooling. Herein, we report an in situ UV-crosslinking strategy for preparing PEO electrospun membranes with water resistance for the application of daytime radiative cooling. Acrylate-terminated PEO was synthesized and mixed together with cross-linking agents and photoinitiators to prepare the electrospinning solution. During electrospinning, the nanofibers were irradiated with UV light to initiate the cross-linking. For a membrane with a thickness of 200 μm, the average solar reflectance was 89.6%, and the infrared emissivity (8–13 μm) was 96.3%. Although slight swelling happens to the cross-linked membrane once it comes into contact with water, the fibrous morphology shows no obvious change when prolonging the water soaking time, indicating excellent water resistance. The outdoor cooling performance test results showed that compared to the average temperature of the air in the test box, the average temperature drop in the membrane before and after water soaking was 13.8 °C and 11.5 °C, respectively. Crosslinked PEO-based electrospun membranes with both water resistance and radiative cooling performance may have real applications for outdoor daytime radiative cooling. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-08fdfa0384314d789fc9be2d1a6c3945 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-08fdfa0384314d789fc9be2d1a6c39452025-01-24T13:43:59ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-01-0130242110.3390/molecules30020421Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative CoolingHaiyan Zhang0Qingpeng Wang1Zhiguang Xu2Yan Zhao3College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, ChinaCollege of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, ChinaChina-Australia Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, College of Biological, Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, ChinaCollege of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, ChinaDaytime radiative cooling, based on selective infrared emissions through atmospheric transparency windows to outer space and the reflection of solar irradiance, is a zero-energy and environmentally friendly cooling technology. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrospun membranes have both selective mid-infrared emissions and effective sunlight reflection, inducing excellent daytime radiative cooling performance. However, PEO is highly water soluble, which makes electrospun PEO membranes unable to cope with rainy conditions when used for outdoor daytime radiative cooling. Herein, we report an in situ UV-crosslinking strategy for preparing PEO electrospun membranes with water resistance for the application of daytime radiative cooling. Acrylate-terminated PEO was synthesized and mixed together with cross-linking agents and photoinitiators to prepare the electrospinning solution. During electrospinning, the nanofibers were irradiated with UV light to initiate the cross-linking. For a membrane with a thickness of 200 μm, the average solar reflectance was 89.6%, and the infrared emissivity (8–13 μm) was 96.3%. Although slight swelling happens to the cross-linked membrane once it comes into contact with water, the fibrous morphology shows no obvious change when prolonging the water soaking time, indicating excellent water resistance. The outdoor cooling performance test results showed that compared to the average temperature of the air in the test box, the average temperature drop in the membrane before and after water soaking was 13.8 °C and 11.5 °C, respectively. Crosslinked PEO-based electrospun membranes with both water resistance and radiative cooling performance may have real applications for outdoor daytime radiative cooling.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/421electrospun membranespoly(ethylene oxide)radiative coolingUV-cross-linkingwater resistance |
| spellingShingle | Haiyan Zhang Qingpeng Wang Zhiguang Xu Yan Zhao Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling Molecules electrospun membranes poly(ethylene oxide) radiative cooling UV-cross-linking water resistance |
| title | Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling |
| title_full | Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling |
| title_fullStr | Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling |
| title_short | Water-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes Enabled by In Situ UV-Cross-Linking for Efficient Daytime Radiative Cooling |
| title_sort | water resistant poly ethylene oxide electrospun membranes enabled by in situ uv cross linking for efficient daytime radiative cooling |
| topic | electrospun membranes poly(ethylene oxide) radiative cooling UV-cross-linking water resistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/421 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haiyanzhang waterresistantpolyethyleneoxideelectrospunmembranesenabledbyinsituuvcrosslinkingforefficientdaytimeradiativecooling AT qingpengwang waterresistantpolyethyleneoxideelectrospunmembranesenabledbyinsituuvcrosslinkingforefficientdaytimeradiativecooling AT zhiguangxu waterresistantpolyethyleneoxideelectrospunmembranesenabledbyinsituuvcrosslinkingforefficientdaytimeradiativecooling AT yanzhao waterresistantpolyethyleneoxideelectrospunmembranesenabledbyinsituuvcrosslinkingforefficientdaytimeradiativecooling |