Developing 3D smart energy devices with radiant cooling and solar absorption

Developing 3D smart energy devices with radiant cooling and solar absorption

by Riko Seibo

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 28, 2024

A team of researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), led by Professor Bonghoon Kim from the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, has introduced a “3D Smart Energy Device” featuring both reversible heating and cooling capabilities. This innovative project was developed in collaboration with Professor Bongjae Lee of KAIST’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Heon Lee of Korea University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Recognizing its importance, the international journal *Advanced Materials* featured this device as its cover article.

With heating and cooling accounting for nearly half of the global energy demand, their environmental impact is substantial, particularly in contributing to global warming and air pollution. To address this, devices that leverage solar absorption and radiative cooling have been explored as sustainable alternatives. However, many current systems are limited in function, offering only heating or cooling, and most large-scale implementations lack flexibility.

Professor Kim’s team has tackled these limitations with the “3D Smart Energy Device,” designed to enable both heating and cooling in a single structure. The device functions through an innovative mechanism: when its 3D structure is opened via a mechanical peeling technique, a lower layer composed of silicone elastomer and silver is revealed, facilitating radiative cooling. Conversely, when the structure closes, a black-painted surface captures solar heat, creating a heating effect.

Extensive testing on a variety of substrates – including skin, glass, steel, aluminum, copper, and polyimide – demonstrated the device’s adaptable thermal properties. By adjusting the 3D structure’s angle, the team successfully controlled the device’s heating and cooling performance, marking a promising step toward energy-efficient solutions for climate control in buildings and electronic devices on various scales.

“We are honored to have our research selected for the cover article of such a prestigious journal,” said Professor Bonghoon Kim. “We aim to ensure that these findings are applied in industrial and building settings to help reduce energy consumption.”

Research Report:Reversible Solar Heating and Radiative Cooling Devices via Mechanically Guided Assembly of 3D Macro/Microstructures