A new experimental purple textile developed by researchers challenges the conventional wisdom that only white or light-colored clothing can keep people cool in the sun. Created by a research team from Zhengzhou University in China and the University of Adelaide in Australia, the advanced material combines vibrant color with passive radiative cooling technology. The findings were published in the scientific journal Small.
Researchers Develop Innovative Purple Fabric That Defies Traditional Cooling Rules
While white clothing stays cool because it reflects sunlight, darker and more colorful garments typically absorb solar energy and trap heat. Purple presents a particularly difficult challenge for textile engineers because its pigments absorb green light, which constitutes one of the strongest regions of the solar spectrum. To overcome this obstacle, the research team utilized microscopic electrospun fibers incorporating a purple metal-organic framework known as ZIF-67, alongside zinc oxide nanoparticles. The development of porous crystalline materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) was recognized with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
How Passive Radiative Cooling Works in the New Material
The purple textile relies on passive radiative cooling, a process that allows an object to shed heat without electricity by shining it away as invisible mid-infrared radiation straight up into the cold environment of outer space. Laboratory and outdoor measurements show that the material reflects an average of 87.6% of incoming solar radiation while emitting 96.4% of mid-infrared radiation.
During outdoor testing under direct sunlight in Zhengzhou, China, the fabric demonstrated impressive temperature control compared to standard fabrics:
* Remained 7.6 degrees Fahrenheit (4.2°C) cooler than commercial white cotton. * Remained 11.2 degrees Fahrenheit (6.2°C) cooler than conventional purple cotton. * Dropped temperatures over simulated skin by about 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
We have traditionally had to make a choice between cooling performance and appearance,
said Jun Ma, a materials engineering professor and study co-author at the University of Adelaide. Our research shows that we can have both. We can make a fabric that looks purple, but at the same time reflects most of the sun’s energy and releases heat very efficiently.
Practical Benefits and Future Applications for Outdoor Workers
Beyond its optical and thermal properties, the fabric was engineered to be practical for everyday apparel. The material is light, flexible, breathable, and water-repellent, maintaining its cooling performance even after 50 washes while showing resistance to ultraviolet light.
Researchers emphasize that advanced cooling textiles could provide critical relief for people subjected to high temperatures. In a world where extremely hot summers are becoming increasingly common, the material could be used to manufacture specialized workwear for construction workers, farmers, and other outdoor laborers.
For outdoor workers, athletes and anyone exposed to hot weather, staying cool is not just about comfort,
noted Yangzhe Hou, a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide’s School of Chemical Engineering and co-author of the research.
At present, the purple textile remains in the research and manufacturing phase, with production centered in China, and faces the remaining challenge of scaling into mass-produced clothing. However, scientists believe different metal-organic frameworks with varied optical properties could eventually enable the creation of other colors, signaling a shift away from the traditional restriction that high-performance cooling fabrics must be white.
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