Photoluminescent radiative cooling for aesthetic and urban comfort

Yang Fu, Xue Ma, Xiao-Wen Zhang, Ze Li, Chuyao Wang, Kaixin Lin, Yiying Zhou, Aiqiang Pan, Xu Chen, Xin Li, Wenqi Wang, Chui Ting Kwok, Yi-Hao Zhu, Xiao Xue, Xin Zhao, Andrey L. Rogach, Longnan Li, Wei Li () and Chi Yan Tso ()
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Yang Fu: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Xue Ma: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Xiao-Wen Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences, GPL Photonics Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Luminescence Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics
Ze Li: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Chuyao Wang: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Kaixin Lin: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Yiying Zhou: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Aiqiang Pan: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Xu Chen: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Xin Li: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Wenqi Wang: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Chui Ting Kwok: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Yi-Hao Zhu: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment
Xiao Xue: China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Co. Ltd.
Xin Zhao: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Andrey L. Rogach: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Longnan Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences, GPL Photonics Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Luminescence Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics
Wei Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences, GPL Photonics Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Luminescence Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics
Chi Yan Tso: City University of Hong Kong, School of Energy and Environment

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 11, 1328-1339

Abstract: Abstract Passive radiative cooling offers a sustainable solution to reduce carbon emissions in space cooling by simultaneously reflecting sunlight and emitting thermal radiation. However, the super-white property of conventional passive radiative cooling materials poses challenges for large-scale urban applications by conflicting with aesthetic requirements and neglecting impacts on urban microclimate and pedestrian thermal and visual comfort. Here inspired by the biological photoadaptation of coral, we present photoluminescence-based aesthetic composites as innovative urban skins that harness the enhanced light conversion of rare-earth-doped phosphors while decoupling from light-scattering-based whiteness, providing cool colours with improved urban compatibility. These composites demonstrate effective spectral reflectance of over 100% and peak reflectance up to 141% in their emission regions, despite a moderate overall solar reflectance (90.2–93.2%). With vivid yet angle-insensitive green, yellow and red appearances, the composites achieve subambient temperature reductions of 2.2–3.7 °C compared with ambient air and 6.1–7.9 °C relative to their non-photoluminescent counterparts. Moreover, their moderate whiteness alleviates excessive thermal and visual stress induced by trapping of sunlight in urban environments. Featuring excellent durability, compatibility and stability, these composites offer a scalable solution for energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing radiative cooling in architecture, textiles and beyond, advancing passive radiative cooling technologies towards diverse real-world implementations.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01657-y

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