Promising Radiative Cooling Materials and Their Application in Construction and Building

Radiative cooling technology, which leverages the emission of long-wave infrared radiation to deep space, offers a promising passive cooling solution that can reduce the energy consumption associated with conventional air conditioning systems. This technology is particularly relevant in tropical and subtropical regions, where buildings are exposed to high levels of solar radiation and excessive heat. Passive radiative cooling materials, such as petroleum-, inorganic- and cellulose-based materials, have shown significant potential in reducing building temperatures (more than 8 °C at daytime and 10 °C at nighttime) and enhancing energy efficiency by weakening the utilization of air conditioning. This review explores the development of promising radiative cooling materials, focusing on their raw materials, manufacturing, and key distinction (such as high solar reflectivity of >90% and middle-infrared band light emissivity of >0.9) for radiative cooling. Further, the progressive application of radiative cooling material in building and construction is significantly discussed, focusing on the cooling performance, mechanical properties, hydrophobicity and long-term stability. Lastly, future directions for advancing radiative cooling materials for building applications are presented, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability, up-scale manufacturing, and low cost with high thermal management performance.