Thermal management materials play a critical role in human thermal comfort, building energy efficiency, and heat dissipation of electronic devices. However, conventional materials still suffer from limited environmental adaptability and insufficient multifunctional integration. Through long−term evolution, biological systems have developed efficient and diverse thermal management strategies, providing important inspiration for the design of advanced thermal management materials. In this review, biological thermal management mechanisms are first categorized into three aspects: optical regulation, thermal conduction regulation, and phase−change−based regulation. On this basis, recent advances in biomimetic thermal management materials are systematically summarized, including radiative cooling, infrared camouflage, and photothermal conversion enabled by spectral selectivity; high−performance thermal insulation and anisotropic heat conduction achieved through structural design; and efficient phase−change thermal management based on interfacial evaporation, liquid transport, and latent heat storage. Furthermore, current challenges are identified, including complex fabrication processes, limited scalability, insufficient long−term stability, and difficulties in multifunctional optimization. Finally, future perspectives are proposed, emphasizing multi−mechanism coupling, precise multiscale structural engineering, and application−oriented research, to promote the development of biomimetic thermal management materials toward high performance and practical applications.

Radiative cooling is an emerging zero−energy cooling technology. It holds significant importance for addressing the energy crisis and global warming through in−depth research and development of radiative cooling energy−saving materials. This paper focuses on the micro−nanostructure design of radiative cooling materials and its pivotal role in spectral regulation. It investigates how material structures modulate light scattering, propagation, and resonance phenomena to achieve multi−band spectral optimization of radiative cooling materials. This paper reviews the design principles, spectral tuning strategies, and breakthroughs in cooling performance for periodic, non−periodic, and biomimetic micro−nanostructure systems in radiative cooling materials. It also summarizes the challenges faced by radiative cooling materials in terms of spectral tuning precision, environmental adaptability, large−scale fabrication, and industry recognition. In future, the development of radiative cooling materials holds significant research value and application potential in the following three areas: multiscale precision coordination and multifunctional integration in micro−nanostructure design; further development of intelligent dynamic control mechanisms; and the development of novel radiative cooling material systems. In addtion, balancing performance and cost, enhancing environmental stability, and standardizing testing protocols are also important. It aims to advance radiative cooling technology from laboratory research to large−scale application.

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) enables electricity−free heat dissipation through the atmospheric transparency window, yet conventional static spectral designs struggle to adapt to diverse climatic conditions and application demands. This review systematically examines the recent progress in multifunctional coupling strategies for PDRC across three key directions: intelligent thermal management, energy harvesting, and integration with emerging functionalities. In the realm of intelligent thermal management, we summarize passive mechanisms responsive to temperature and humidity, as well as active regulation via mechanical and electrical stimuli, highlighting the transition from continuous cooling to on−demand thermal control. Regarding energy harvesting, we analyze synergistic approaches combining PDRC with thermoelectric generators, triboelectric nanogenerators, and atmospheric water harvesting, revealing the mechanisms that enable integrated cooling, power generation, and water collection. For emerging functionalities, we introduce coupling schemes involving photoluminescence, sensing, and structural color design, illustrating innovative solutions that resolve the inherent trade−off between coloration and cooling performance while expanding application boundaries. Based on these analyses, we identify common challenges in current research, including trade−offs in material performance, long−term stability, system integration complexity, economic feasibility, and environmental adaptability. Future efforts should focus on the synergistic design of stimuli−responsive materials and efficient energy conversion structures, establish performance evaluation frameworks under diverse service conditions, and promote the evolution of multifunctional coupled radiative cooling technologies toward adaptive, scalable, and multi−energy complementary intelligent platforms.

In dense environments, parasitic thermal radiation from limited sky views severely restricts traditional omnidirectional radiative cooling. Addressing this, we systematically review directional thermal emission strategies. First, building upon theoretical models, we examine macroscopic geometrical optics strategies utilizing external concentrators and surface morphology engineering. Second, focusing on planar films and metasurfaces, we analyze mechanisms driving broadband and unidirectional emission—including surface wave excitation, ENZ Berreman modes, Fabry−Pérot coupling, and symmetry breaking—alongside dynamic regulation via magnetic deformation, phase−change materials, and hot−carrier effects. Finally, we summarize practical challenges like costly processing and dust−induced weatherability issues. We outline future directions including low−cost manufacturing, self−cleaning designs, and multi-spectral dynamic regulation with solar modulation capabilities, aiming to provide theoretical and technical pathways to enhance the all-scenario potential of radiative cooling.

Global warming has led to the frequent occurrence of extreme heat events, causing a continuous rise in cooling energy consumption for buildings and equipment. Consequently, electricity demand for cooling has emerged as a major driver of power grid load growth. In the context of the "Dual Carbon" (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality) strategy, developing low−energy and green cooling technologies has become a crucial challenge. Radiative cooling, a passive cooling technology based on infrared radiation exchange between the Earth and deep space, has garnered significant attention due to its advantages of zero energy consumption and zero carbon emissions. This paper systematically reviews relevant research and proposes three core perspectives: First, although radiative cooling holds potential application value in fields such as building energy conservation, photovoltaic panel cooling, and power equipment thermal management, its actual engineering benefits may be overestimated. Second, transitioning from laboratory research to industrial application faces major obstacles that extend beyond material performance optimization to include practical challenges such as scalable manufacturing processes, long−term weatherability, and economic costs. Third, the lack of standardized performance testing protocols and certification systems results in insufficient comparability among research findings, thereby hindering its widespread promotion and application at both the industrial and policy levels. Based on typical case studies and empirical data, this paper analyzes the applicability and limitations of radiative cooling across various climatic conditions and application scenarios, while also addressing related controversies. The future development of radiative cooling must transcend the limitations of singular material optimization and foster interdisciplinary collaboration: on the one hand, it requires the development of low−cost, scalable new material systems; on the other hand, comprehensive standard specifications, policy incentives, and market mechanisms must be established. Only through multi−dimensional collaborative innovation can the gap between laboratory achievements and practical applications be bridged, enabling radiative cooling to genuinely fulfill its potential in energy conservation, emission reduction, and sustainable development.