Large-Scale Nanofiber Manufacturing| An infrared-transparent textile with high drawingprocessed Nylon 6nanofibers

Prof. Zhu Bin & Prof. Zhu Jia (Nanjing University) et al.: An Infrared-Transparent Textile Based on Nylon 6 Nanofibers

Challenge: Infrared (IR)-transparent radiative cooling textiles show great promise for personal thermal comfort and energy consumption reduction. However, beyond a few synthetic fiber materials proposed as IR-transparent textiles, traditional textile materials have not achieved IR transparency, hindering large-scale practical applications.

Approach: Prof. Zhu Bin and Prof. Zhu Jia from Nanjing University, collaborating with Prof. Zhang Qian from Wuhan Textile University, developed an IR-transparent PA6 textile using needleless large-scale electrospinning technology based on high-stretching and rapid solvent evaporation processes.

Innovation 1: By altering PA6's chain conformation and crystal structure, molecular vibrations (IR absorption) in the infrared region were significantly weakened. Simultaneously, the process customized fibers to nanoscale while minimizing infrared reflection.

Innovation 2: The textile-covered human body maintained 2.1°C lower temperature than cotton, equivalent to ~20% energy savings for indoor cooling.