Core-Sheath Nanofibrous Membranes Based on a Phase Change Energy Storage/Radiative Cooling Synergistic Strategy for Personal Thermal Management

Personal thermal management (PTM) significantly enhances human thermal comfort by alleviating overheating-induced stress. However, achieving energy-free cooling, intelligent temperature regulation, lightweight construction, and wearable designs remains challenging. This study introduces a coaxial electrospinning nanofiber membrane with a core-sheath structure using polyvinyl alcohol as the matrix, phase change microcapsules (PCMC) for energy storage, and nano-silica (SiO 2 -NPs) for radiative cooling. The resultant membrane effectively provides cooling without external energy input. The PVA/SiO 2 -30 shell exhibits high solar reflectance (80%) and mid-to-long infrared emissivity (95%), while the PCMC-loaded core prevents leakage during phase transitions, achieving a melting enthalpy of 79.7 J·g − . Under simulated solar radiation, the membrane maintains an equilibrium temperature ≈14.2 °C lower than conventional cotton fabric, demonstrating superior thermal stability. Moreover, the membrane exhibits excellent mechanical performance, with tensile strength of 2.71 MPa, elongation at break of 128%, and lightweight properties (3.125 gm −2 ). The one-step coaxial electrospinning process simplifies fabrication, enhancing interlayer adhesion and enabling efficient multifunctional textile production. This approach offers significant potential for developing intelligent, lightweight, and energy-efficient wearable cooling textiles.