CSIC researchers develop nanomaterial for passive cooling

Researchers from the FINDER group at the Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology (IMN-CNM) of the CSIC have developed a nanomaterial designed to cool surfaces passively using solar radiation. This innovation aims to address the high global electricity consumption caused by refrigeration, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world's electricity usage.

The material utilizes a phenomenon known as daytime passive radiative cooling (PDRC). It is engineered to perform two simultaneous functions: reflecting the majority of incoming sunlight to prevent heat absorption, and efficiently emitting heat through the atmospheric transparency window—a specific infrared radiation range between 8 and 13 micrometers—allowing heat to escape directly into outer space.