Do-it-yourself radiative cooler as a radiative cooling standard and cooling component for device design

We demonstrate a simple, low-cost design of a selectively emissive radiative cooler using scotch tape and aluminum foil, which can be further augmented by higher quality metal deposition methods. This do-it-yourself radiative cooler achieves solar reflectance, long wave-length infrared emittance, and optical selectivity comparable to state-of-the art designs and is experimentally demonstrated as achieving a 7 degrees C subambient temperature drop at night for the aluminized scotch tape and an average 2 degrees C drop under a solar illumination of 965 W/m(2) for the silvered scotch tape. In addition, an 11 degrees C subambient temperature drop at night for the aluminized scotch tape was obtained when a convection shield was used. Detailed optical properties are presented for an ultrawide wavelength range and a similar to 2 pi angle of emittance. Given its ease of fabrication and performance, we propose this set of materials as a control for future radiative cooling experiments and an effective radiative cooling accessory for passive cooling designs. (C) 2021 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Automated summary

We present a simple and low-cost design of a selectively emissive radiative cooler using scotch tape and aluminum foil. This cooler achieves excellent solar reflectance, long wave-length infrared emittance, and optical selectivity, and has been experimentally demonstrated to achieve a subambient temperature drop of 7 degrees C at night and an average drop of 2 degrees C under solar illumination. When combined with a convection shield, a temperature drop of 11 degrees C at night was obtained. The results highlight the potential of this cooler as a control material for future radiative cooling experiments and as an effective accessory for passive cooling designs.