Inventions, innovations, and new technologies: Paints and coatings for passive cooling

Abstract

In this article we have briefly reviewed inventions, innovations, and commercialization aspects of paints and coatings that can provide passive cooling without the use of mechanical refrigeration equipment. Solar reflective coatings have been available in the market for a long time and are in use for reflective roofs of commercial buildings. In this paper, we have reviewed recent developments of thin coatings that not only reflect solar radiation but also emit radiation in the atmospheric window, which further cools the surfaces. We reviewed the recent developments in coating fabrication that would lead to commercialization of these coatings. The review is followed by a list of notable recent patents and articles. However, the list is by no means exhaustive or complete, and quite possibly some important patents and articles might be missing. However, the review and the lists support the objective of this section to draw attention to the topic of inventions, innovations and new technologies, which can be a major contributor to the global goal of net zero carbon emissions in the world.