Unlocking smart wearable applications: the “potential code” of cellulose-based radiative cooling materials

With the development of science and technology, radiative cooling technology is undergoing a paradigm shift from “passive cooling” to “intelligent temperature control”. Cellulose-based materials have emerged as core candidates for revolutionary wearable thermal management systems due to their unique spectral tuning ability, customizable structures across various scales, and biocompatibility. However, the intricate relationships between structure, optics, and multifunctionality in cellulose-based radiative cooling materials have yet to be systematically discussed and decoded, which results in cooling performance can not meet practical requirements. This review summarizes and analyses the latest development strategies for cellulose-based radiative cooling materials: (1) A systematic deconstruction of the three core elements of thermal radiation regulation: molecular vibrational spectral matching, multi-scale scattering structure optimization, and environmental coupling robustness. (2) An exploration of the hidden connections between cellulose micro-nano structures and wearability adaptability, elucidating their unique advantages in complex scenarios such as sweat management and thermal regulation. (3) A novel approach introducing a “radiative cooling +” pathway that combines enhanced photothermal conversion with the design of self-powered sensor integration. Moreover, this review highlights the current research challenges in dynamic spectral control and wearable system integration, providing a theoretical blueprint for developing thermally adaptive smart cellulose-based cooling fabrics and paving the way for new research directions in the field of wearable thermal management.