Recent Progress in Polymeric Porous Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling Materials: Design, Strategies, and Applications

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) represents an environmentally friendly approach to sustainable cooling that operates without electricity, offering a greener alternative to traditional cooling methods. This technique achieves cooling passively by reflecting sunlight effectively and emitting thermal energy in the mid-infrared spectrum. Polymeric porous materials (PPMs), known for their superior mechanical durability and straightforward fabrication, have significantly propelled advancements in PDRC. This review examines the latest progress in PPMs designed for durable PDRC applications, emphasizing the importance of porous architectures and the link between their microstructural features and cooling efficiency. It begins by outlining methods for creating porous structures and detailing the surface characteristics of pores in these polymeric PDRC materials, which lay the groundwork for enhancing the PDRC effect. Next, it categorizes various types of polymeric porous PDRC materials and explores related uses, including building cooling, personal thermal management, photovoltaic cooling, and electricity generation. Finally, this review addresses key obstacles and prospects for PPMs in radiative cooling, offering insights to improve their real-world effectiveness and broaden their implementation.