Controlling how materials and surfaces absorb, convert, store, and release thermal energy is crucial for technologies such as solar harvesting, thermoelectric power generation, radiative cooling, thermal management, and thermal energy storage, as well as for improving the energy efficiency of devices and systems. Nanomaterials and nanostructures offer powerful tools to tune thermo‑optical, electrical, and caloric properties, including electrocaloric, magnetocaloric, and elastocaloric responses relevant to solid-state cooling and thermal management in a precise and scalable way. This Research Topic focuses on nano‑engineered materials, thin films, and surfaces that deliver measurable gains in thermal energy performance, and on understanding how nanoscale design, multifunctionality, and operating conditions affect their behaviour in thermal and solar‑related applications.

Goal:

The goal of this Research Topic is to gather innovative research on nano‑engineered functional materials and surfaces that enhance thermal energy harvesting, conversion, storage, and management. We aim to highlight advances in materials and surface design, fabrication and characterization, multifunctional property optimization (e.g. thermo‑optical, ferroelectric, electrocaloric, and other solid‑state cooling–related responses), durability assessment, and device‑ or system‑level evaluation in support of affordable and clean energy and climate action.

Scope and Information for Authors:

We welcome focused contributions that advance the understanding and application of nano‑engineered materials, thin films, and surfaces for thermal energy and solar systems. Topics can include:

• Nanostructured coatings and textures for solar absorbers, thermophotovoltaic interfaces, selective emitters, and reflective and radiative cooling surfaces
• Nano‑engineered materials and composites for passive and active thermal management and thermal energy storage
• Ferroelectric, electrocaloric, magnetocaloric and related solid-state cooling materials, thin films, and flexible nanocomposites, when used as thermal interfaces or active components in thermal management or solid-state refrigeration devices
• Photonic, plasmonic, or metamaterial approaches to control emissivity, reflectivity, and absorptivity, and related functional responses in thermal energy and solar devices
• Durability, ageing, and environmental stability of nano‑engineered functional materials and surfaces under thermal and outdoor operating conditions
• Modelling and experimental studies linking nanoscale design and multifunctional properties to device‑ and system‑level thermal and solar energy performance

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Nano-Engineered Functional Materials and Surfaces for Thermal Energy Management