Application-Driven Daytime Radiative Cooling: From Optical Properties to Functional Customization

As an emerging cooling technology, passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years, evolving from fundamental laboratory studies toward increasingly practical developments. PDRC technology has demonstrated significant application potential across a range of fields, including building energy efficiency, renewable energy systems, and thermal management. Nevertheless, distinct application scenarios impose specific requirements on the thermal-optical performance and manufacturability of PDRC materials. Despite these advances, a comprehensive review that effectively links material design with the multifaceted demands of real-world applications remains lacking. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in PDRC technology. First, the fundamental principles of PDRC are discussed. Then, various PDRC materials are reviewed in a systematic manner, and the differentiated requirements imposed by practical scenarios for PDRC materials are examined, including the requirements for aesthetic or transparent, environmental durability, economic viability, and multifunctional integration. Applications in building energy conservation, thermal management, agriculture, food preservation, and energy generation are subsequently examined. Finally, this paper analyzes the current limitations of PDRC technology and proposes development strategies, providing valuable references for the continued development and large-scale application of PDRC technology.