Biomimetic Structure and Phase Change Materials for Multifunctional Personal Thermal Management

Abstract

With the continuously increasing awareness of energy conservation and the intensifying impacts of global warming, Personal Thermal Management (PTM) technologies are increasingly recognized for their potential to ensure human thermal comfort in extreme environments. Biomimetic structures have emerged as a novel source of inspiration for PTM applications. This review systematically summarizes the biomimetic structures, phase change materials, manufacturing methods, and the performance of multifunctional PTM wearables. Firstly, it analyzes the biomimetic structures with thermal regulation and encapsulated phase change material functionalities from different dimensions, highlighting their applications in PTM. Subsequently, it outlines the conventional manufacturing methods incorporating various biomimetic structures, offering strategies for the production of PTM wearables. The review also discusses the typical performance characteristics of multifunctional PTM wearables, addressing the current demands in thermal management. Finally, opportunities and challenges in PTM field are proposed, proposing new directions for future research.