Reversible Water Transportation Diode: Temperature‐Adaptive Smart Janus Textile for Moisture/Thermal Management

TLDR

Air‑conditioning textiles that manage thermal and moisture are sought to improve comfort and cut energy use, yet creating fabrics that adapt to environmental changes remains a major challenge. The study develops a double‑sided Janus textile that reversibly transports water like a diode and adjusts thermal convection with temperature. It employs responsive polymer networks that undergo inverse transitions on each side, generating surface‑energy and capillary gradients that drive the reversible water transport and temperature‑dependent convection. The textile achieves 50 % faster water evaporation and 1.2–2.3 °C cooler in hot weather, and 3.3 °C warmer and 120 s longer cooling time in cold weather, demonstrating its dual drying‑cooling and thermal‑preservation performance.

Abstract

Abstract “Air‐conditioning” textiles with thermal‐ or moisture‐managing functions are of high interest for not only improving human comfort but also reducing energy consumption. However, making the textile sensitive to the surrounding environment and exhibit adaptive thermal/moisture management still remains a great challenge. Herein, a double‐sided synergetic Janus textile is developed, featuring reversible diode‐like water transportation and adjustable thermal convection upon temperature change. The incorporated responsive polymer networks with inverse transitions on the opposite sides provide synergistic surface energy gradients and capillary gradients that generate drying and cooling effects (with 50% faster water evaporation and 1.2–2.3 °C cooler than with cotton fabric) in hot weather while offering thermal preservation (120 s longer needed to be cooled down and maximumly 3.3 °C warmer than with cotton fabric) in a cold environment. This method could provide ideas for the development of more adaptive textiles and clothing to address maximum personal comfort in demanding situations.