A team of researchers at Stanford University has developed skin-like fabric that cools the body more efficiently. In the latest edition of Science journal, researchers have reported they used nanoporous polyethylene to develop a textile material that aides radiative cooling while maintaining breathability, wicking and necessary mechanical strength. According They have also devised an instrument to simulate skin temperature. The use of nanoporous polyethylene fabric resulted in the lowering of skin temperature by about 2.7 degree centigrade when compared with another commonly used next-to-skin fabric. The fabric effectively cools the person which makes cooling the building unnecessary thereby saving energy.

Nanoporous plastic textile moves the body heat as infrared rays due to the nanostructured polyethylene. Researchers modified the polyethylene material that is commonly used in battery development which enables it to be opaque to visible light but transparent to infrared rays so that the heat can be dissipated. To Shanhui Fan, Professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University, who co-authored the study, says this research can lead to the development of new materials that can trap or let go infrared radiations.