Zhengzhou and Adelaide researchers develop cooling purple fabric
Researchers at Zhengzhou University and the University of Adelaide created a purple fabric that stays up to 6.2°C cooler than traditional cotton in the sun.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Researchers in China and Australia developed a cooling purple textile
- Material combines metal-organic frameworks and zinc oxide nanoparticles
- Outdoor tests show it stays 6.2°C cooler than conventional purple cotton
- Fabric remains lightweight, flexible, water-repellent, and durable
Challenging the long-held assumption that cooling textiles must strictly be white, a research team from Zhengzhou University in China and the University of Adelaide in Australia has successfully developed a new purple fabric designed to reflect sunlight and release heat.
The experimental material is manufactured using microscopic electrospun fibers integrated with a purple metal-organic framework, commonly known as MOF, along with zinc oxide nanoparticles. These components work together to optimize the textile's optical properties, enabling it to reflect an average of 87.6 percent of solar radiation while emitting 96.4 percent of mid-infrared radiation to dissipate heat through the atmosphere.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
During direct outdoor sunlight testing, the experimental textile demonstrated an impressive temperature reduction, remaining up to 6.2 degrees Celsius cooler than conventional purple cotton. The findings indicate that color in performance textiles can be engineered at a microscopic scale without sacrificing the aesthetic expectations of everyday clothing.
Passive radiative cooling materials traditionally rely on white surfaces to maximize solar reflection. Expanding this capability to chromatic colors like purple using metal-organic frameworks represents a significant milestone for functional apparel, potentially bridging the gap between energy-efficient cooling technology and stylish consumer fashion.
Beyond its thermal properties, the material maintains key practical characteristics for apparel use. The researchers noted that the fabric is lightweight, flexible, and breathable enough to allow body perspiration to pass through.
Furthermore, the textile demonstrates high water-repellency and durability, retaining its cooling performance after 50 washing cycles. It also provides UV resistance, maintaining its optical performance following high-intensity ultraviolet aging equivalent to roughly 108 days outdoors.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to explore whether this technique can be adapted beyond the color purple by utilizing alternative metal-organic frameworks with distinct optical properties to produce a wider spectrum of colored cooling textiles.
Source: designboom
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