Recently, the research team led by Professor Min Qiu has achieved a significant breakthrough in the field of silicon carbide (SiC) thermal management. The study by Xiaoxuan Li, a 2023 Ph.D. candidate, titled "Transparent Radiative Cooler with High Thermal Conductivity for Heat Dissipation in Electronic Devices," has been published in Cell Reports Physical Science. This paper presents the first transparent radiative cooling device based on 4H-SiC material, offering a novel approach to performance optimization and functional innovation for wearable electronics such as smart glasses.
With the rapid advancement of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, smart glasses have demonstrated vast potential in consumer electronics, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing. However, constrained by compact designs, the heat generated during operation not only degrades performance and shortens battery life but may also pose safety risks, including thermal burns. Conventional thermal management solutions struggle to balance device slimness with effective cooling.
To address this challenge, the research team innovatively employed ultra-high thermal conductivity silicon carbide as an optical lens. Utilizing micro-nano fabrication techniques, they successfully developed a multilayer thin-film structure that endows SiC with both high transparency and efficient radiative cooling capabilities. Compared to traditional quartz lenses, the SiC composite lens exhibits superior thermal conductivity and radiative cooling performance, significantly lowering the operating temperature of electronic components and providing a groundbreaking material solution for smart glass industrial design.
The paper systematically elaborates on the design principles, fabrication process, and performance evaluation of the high-thermal-conductivity transparent radiative cooler. Experimental results confirm the device’s exceptional heat dissipation capability, effectively addressing thermal management challenges in wearable electronics. This technology is not only applicable to smart glasses but can also be extended to smartphone displays, solar cell encapsulation, and other fields, demonstrating broad application prospects. The publication of this research not only introduces a transformative solution for thermal management in smart devices but also opens new avenues for the development of SiC-based photonic devices.
Paper Link：https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(25)00104-3
