A photosynthetically active radiative cooling film

Jinlei Li, Yi Jiang, Jia Liu, Linsheng Wu, Ning Xu, Zhaoying Zhang, Dayang Zhao, Gang Li, Peng Wang, Wei Li, Bin Zhu (), Yongguang Zhang () and Jia Zhu ()
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Jinlei Li: Nanjing University
Yi Jiang: Nanjing University
Jia Liu: Nanjing University
Linsheng Wu: Nanjing University
Ning Xu: Nanjing University
Zhaoying Zhang: Nanjing University
Dayang Zhao: Nanjing University
Gang Li: Nanjing Agricultural University
Peng Wang: Nanjing Agricultural University
Wei Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Bin Zhu: Nanjing University
Yongguang Zhang: Nanjing University
Jia Zhu: Nanjing University

Nature Sustainability, 2024, vol. 7, issue 6, 786-795

Abstract: Abstract The sequestration of atmospheric CO2 through plant photosynthesis helps to mitigate climate change while providing other ecological benefits. However, heat and drought stress can limit plant growth and thus the mitigation potential of vegetation, particularly in drylands. Here we present a photosynthetically active radiative cooling film that decreases the ambient air temperature, minimizes the level of water evaporation and increases photosynthesis in dryland plants. This film comprises a photonic crystal layer sandwiched between polydimethylsiloxane and antifogging polyacrylamide hydrogel layers. The polydimethylsiloxane layer, featuring high mid-infrared emissivity (92% for wavelengths of 2.5–20 μm), enables maximal radiative cooling, the photonic crystal permits the selective transmission of photosynthetically active sunlight (71% for wavelengths of 0.4–0.5 μm and 77% for wavelengths of 0.6–0.7 μm) to boost photosynthesis and the polyacrylamide layer prevents the shading effect, thereby supporting plant growth. Field experiments indicated that our film decreases the air temperature by 1.9–4.6 °C and the level of water evaporation by 2.1–31.9%, consequently increasing the biomass yield of plants by 20–370%. According to our assessment, global application of the film on dryland plants could result in an approximately 40% increase in carbon sink compared with the case without the film (2.26 ± 1.43 PgC yr−1). This work highlights the development of next-generation technologies that can address the water–food–energy nexus of climate change.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01350-6

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