Structures for radiative cooling
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsAaswath Pattabhi Raman, Shanhui Fan, Eden Rephaeli
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Abstract
Various aspects as described herein are directed to a radiative cooling device and method for cooling an object. As consistent with one or more embodiments, a radiative cooling device includes a solar spectrum reflecting structure configured and arranged to suppress light modes, and a thermally-emissive structure configured and arranged to facilitate thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions from the object and in mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths.
Claims22
A radiative cooling device for cooling an object while the device is exposed to, or under sunlight, the device comprising:
- a solar spectrum reflecting structure, including different materials at least one of which is layered or textured across with a dimension that is between 1 micron and 25 nanometers, the solar spectrum reflecting structure configured and arranged to suppress light modes, by inhibiting coupling of incoming electromagnetic radiation, of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum, to the device while the device is exposed to or under sunlight;
- a thermally-emissive structure configured and arranged to facilitate thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions, from the device while the device is exposed to or under sunlight, in mid- IR wavelengths;
- at least a portion of each of the solar spectrum reflecting structure and the thermally-emissive structure being integrated as a constitution configured and arranged to both inhibit coupling of the incoming electromagnetic radiation to the device and facilitate the thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions, from the device that is exposed to or under sunlight, in mid-IR wavelengths;
- and
- the said object thermally coupled to the device that is exposed to or under sunlight and configured to be cooled from the device that is exposed to or under sunlight and to a temperature that is below an ambient temperature.
A method for cooling an object while being exposed to or under sunlight, the method comprising:
- configuring the object to incorporate a solar spectrum reflecting structure to suppress light modes and by inhibiting coupling of incoming electromagnetic radiation, of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum, to the object while being exposed to or under sunlight;
- configuring the object to incorporate a thermally-emissive structure to facilitate thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions, from the object while being exposed to or under sunlight, in mid-IR wavelengths;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of each of the solar spectrum reflecting structure and the thermally-emissive structure are integrated as a constitution to both inhibit the coupling of the incoming electromagnetic radiation to the object and facilitate the thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions, from the object while being exposed to or under sunlight, in mid-IR wavelengths, and providing radiative cooling below an ambient temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.