Fabrication of a Recyclable Hierarchical Superhydrophobic Radiative Cooling Fabric via Electrospinning and Electrospraying

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC), known for its ability to achieve cooling without external energy input, is considered a promising sustainable cooling technology. However, most PDRC fabrics still face challenges such as complex and costly fabrication processes, vulnerability to outdoor contamination, and limited suitability for sustainable applications. Herein, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS)-silica nanoparticles (n-SiO₂) hybrid fabric (E-SSF) is developed by combined electrospinning-electrospraying techniques. The fabricated E-SSF exhibited a high solar reflectance of 93.0% (0.3–2.5 μm) and a strong infrared emissivity of 92.6% (8–13 μm), achieving a significant subambient cooling effect of approximately 9.8 °C under direct sunlight. The superhydrophobic structure, constructed via electrospraying, endowed E-SSF with excellent self-cleaning properties, allowing it to maintain stable cooling performance even after prolonged outdoor exposure. Furthermore, the integrated design, where both the substrate and the hydrophobic layer share the same composition, significantly simplified the recycling process. The recycled product retained nearly identical structure and performance to the original. This work proposes a design for self-cleaning and recyclable PDRC fabrics, which holds significant importance for their application in environmental protection.