Durable Core–Shell Scatterer Coating with Heat Storage for Radiative Cooling

To address global warming and energy crises, passive radiative cooling (PRC) technology has shown great application value as a zero-energy solution. However, the excellent optical properties of radiative cooling materials are susceptible to environmental pollution and aging, leading to cooling inefficiencies. Meanwhile, the continuous cooling inevitably leads to overcooling at night, making the cooling time-sensitive. These factors pose obstacles to achieving stable and continuous cooling solutions. Herein, we designed and fabricated a novel inorganic core-shell scatterer (ICSS) with ultraviolet (UV) resistance and thermal storage capability. Through silanization modification and evaporation-driven assembly, a superhydrophobic coating has been developed, thereby integrating UV resistance, antisoiling, and heat storage. The ICSS coatings with high solar reflectance of up to 96.7% and infrared emittance of up to 98.8%, combined with phase change material heat absorption, exhibit an average cooling effect of 4.8 °C during the daytime. At night, with the release of stored heat, the coating is only 0.6 °C lower than the ambient temperature, effectively avoiding nighttime overcooling, showing excellent temperature stability. Furthermore, after 336 h of UV irradiation and 1 month of outdoor aging, the solar reflectivity decreased by only 0.6% and 1.0% compared to the initial coating. The ability of the ICSS coating to maintain performance and temperature stability is expected to achieve long-term application in the real world, providing new ways to address global warming and energy crises.