Scientists have invented a new kind of thin material that can cool a surface against the heat of the sun without using energy or typical air conditioning, a study said Thursday. The glass-polymer hybrid material measures just 50 micrometers thick - slightly more than aluminium foil - and can be manufactured cheaply, researchers said in the journal Science.
"We feel that this low-cost manufacturing process will be transformative for real-world applications of this radiative cooling technology," said researcher Xiaobo Yin, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Uses for the product could include keeping buildings and other objects cool, as well as extending the life of solar panels.
In the case of thermoelectric power plants, which need massive amounts of water and electricity to maintain the operating temperatures of their machinery, such a film could save resources and money.
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