Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MIRACLE (Photonic Metaconcrete with Infrared RAdiative Cooling capacity for Large Energy savings)
Période du rapport: 2022-08-01 au 2024-01-31
For this to happen, the photonic properties must be engineered for efficiently scattering sun-light while focusing the emissivity in the Atmospheric Window (a narrow spectral region centred at light wavelengths of 10 microns where the atmosphere is transparent). To this end, MIRACLE project is revisiting the concept of concrete at a threefold level.
• The most appropriated chemical ingredients must be chosen in view of their photonic response.
• The hierarchical porous cementitious structure must be carefully tuned to enhance the light scattering.
• The inclusion of microstructures in a regular or random fashion so as to truly form a PMC with radiative cooling performance.
In the context of an increasing global warming this scientific and technologic breakthrough can have a huge impact in the Nearly-Zero-Energy-Buildings (NZEB) uptake and in the global strategy for reducing the CO2 footprint.
Overall, the MIRACLE project endeavours to
(1) prove the feasibility of this breakthrough idea by developing for the first time in the state of the art a radiative cooling device based on a PMC,
(2) fabricate a prototype whose radiative cooling performance will be validated on the roof of a real building and
(3) start the roadmap of this emerging S&T avenue (PMC) by evaluating its potential environmental impact and exploring how the PMCs could be used in other applications.
Besides, our Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) has confirmed our prediction and the PCM can be extremely attractive from an environmental point of view while or modelling studies have proved that the use of concrete can reduce the operating temperature of solar cells by up to 20 K, with outstanding efficiency and lifetime gains.
In this context, the MIRACLE project explores the idea of transforming cement-based materials into the “ultimate composites” for radiative cooling. Our educated feeling was that concrete, when properly tuned, can be the “win-win combination” of the aforementioned innovations based on photonic metamaterials and hierarchical porous systems.
Currently, MIRACLE is revolutionizing the technology of radiative materials by fabricating for the first time a cheap, affordable and scalable radiative cooling device based on concrete. This technology (recently patented) has been tested in realistic outdoor scenarios, confirming that MIRACLE concretes can operate at subambient temperatutes even under daytime sunlight exposure. This is a real breakthrough, that can revolutionize both modern buildings and our urban landscape.
(a) Great potential for energy building savings.
(b) Scalability and price competitive
(c) Sustainability and global impact
(d) A good asset for fighting agains the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect.