Radiative cooling by tailoring surfaces with microstructures: Association of a grating and a multi-layer structure

• Published in: Journal of quantitative spectroscopy & radiative transfer 2018-12, Vol.221, p.155-163
• Main Authors: Hervé, Armande, Drévillon, Jérémie, Ezzahri, Younès, Joulain, Karl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electromagnetism; Engineering Sciences; Gratings; Mechanics; Micro and nanotechnologies; Microelectronics; Multilayers design; Nanostructures; Optics; Photonic; Physics; Radiative cooling; Solar energy; Thermal emission; Thermics
• ISSN: 0022-4073; 1879-1352
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2018.09.015

•We propose using gratings for a radiative cooling application.•Considered gratings have emission peaks in the atmosphere transparency window.•Association of gratings with multi-layers complete emission spectrum.•A radiative cooling power density up to 80 W.m−2 at night is produced.•A simplified structure for fabrication is shown. We propose in this article a method to conceive radiative coolers that are reflective in the solar spectrum and emissive in the transparency window of the atmosphere (8–13 µm). We choose an approach combining thermal control capacities of gratings and multi-layers. It is the first time that simple gratings are used for radiative cooling applications. We use optimized BN, SiC and SiO2 gratings, which have emissivity peaks in the transparency window. We place under these gratings a metal/dielectric multi-layer structure to obtain a near perfect reflectivity in the solar spectrum and to enhance the emissivity in the transparency window. The optimized structures produce a good radiative cooling power density up to 80 W.m−2 at night and a mean daytime radiative cooling power density of 55 W.m−2, with local atmospherical and solar conditions in Poitiers.