Double success for NUS aerogels

Utilising plastic waste, the team engineered thin-film aerogels that function as thermal insulators and radiative coolers. According to NUS, these aerogels can be applied to any surface, such as roofs, to reduce internal temperatures, offering a scalable and sustainable solution for energy-free thermal management. The team’s findings are published in Solar Energy.

In another study, published in Carbon, the NUS researchers devised a simple, scalable method to produce aerogels that absorb EMWs in the X-band, which is characteristic of those used in weather monitoring and air traffic control.

Traditional cooling systems, such as air conditioners, account for approximately 20 per cent of electricity used in buildings worldwide. The new aerogels developed by the NUS team are claimed to present a passive cooling alternative, using the natural process of radiative cooling to dissipate heat into space without consuming energy.

“This process involves using specially engineered aerogels to emit infrared radiation through the atmospheric ‘sky window’, effectively cooling surface temperatures below ambient levels,” research lead Associate Professor Duong Hai-Minh said in a statement. “We are excited to be able to upcycle fibres from disposable polyethylene terephthalate [PET] bottles for the new aerogels designed for this purpose, to help address the global plastic waste crisis.”