Multicolor Dynamic Radiative Modulators for Intelligent Thermal Regulation in Energy-Efficient Buildings

Dynamic radiative modulators have recently emerged as a promising technology for reducing building energy consumption through dynamically tuning mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity. However, the limited colorful tunability, slow switching speed, and short cycling life still hinder their development for energy-efficient building applications. Herein, we design and demonstrate a flexible multicolor dynamic radiative modulator (MDRM) as building envelopes for intelligent thermal regulation by using a polyaniline nanorod cathode and a Zn2+-based quasi-solid gel electrolyte. The device not only can modulate thermal radiation dynamically to adapt to temperature or seasonal variations but also shows multicolor tunability, satisfying aesthetic demands. Benefiting from the nanorod structure of polyaniline and the high ionic conductivity of the quasi-solid gel electrolyte, the assembled flexible MDRM also exhibits good electrochromic performance, including a high multiband modulation from visible to MIR (ΔR400-2500 nm = 0.32; Δε8-14 μm = 0.34), a fast switching speed, and good cycling stability (75.6% capacity retention after 2000 cycles). Moreover, the MDRM can achieve a high temperature regulation of 8.8 °C, showing great application potential for building thermal management. This work provides a feasible strategy for designing flexible multicolor dynamic radiative modulators for building energy savings, contributing significantly to global carbon neutrality and sustainability goals.