Superhydrophobic stereocomplex-type polylactide/ultra-fine glass fibers aerogel for passive daytime radiative cooling

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) technology offers a green and sustainable strategy for cooling, eliminating the need for external energy sources through its exceptional efficiency in heat radiation and sunlight reflection. Despite its benefits, the widespread usage of non-biodegradable PDRC materials has unfortunately caused environmental pollution and resource wastage. Furthermore, the effectiveness of outdoor PDRC materials can be significantly diminished by rainfall. In this work, a superhydrophobic composite aerogel composed of stereocomplex-type polylactide and ultra-fine glass fiber has been successfully developed through simple physical blending and freeze-drying, which exhibits low thermal conductivity (36.26 mW m−1 K−1) and superhydrophobicity (water contact angle up to 150°). Additionally, its high solar reflectance (91.68 %) and strong infrared emissivity (93.95 %) enable it to effectively lower surface temperatures during daytime, resulting in a cooling effect of approximately 3.8 °C below the ambient temperature during the midday heat of summer, with a cooling power of 68 W/m2. This aerogel offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach for the utilization of radiative refrigeration materials, paving the way for environmental protection and sustainable development.