PolyU researchers develop smart cooling clothes for extreme heat

Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have created advanced cooling technologies that could change how regular clothing works, especially as heat waves become more common.

Findings on sustainable cooling using smart textiles and wearable technologies were published in the journal Science by Dahua Shou, associate professor at PolyU’s School of Fashion and Textiles and associate director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion and the PolyU-Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute.

One of these innovations is the iActive intelligent sportswear. It uses artificial “sweat glands” and a liquid network, similar to plant roots, to manage sweat more effectively. Another development is Omni-Cool-Dry, a breathable fabric that acts like human skin. It directs sweat in specific ways and uses “spectrum-selective cooling” to keep the body comfortable in sunlight. This fabric can lower skin temperature by nearly 5°C compared to common materials.

The team has also designed Soft Robotic Clothing for people working in hot environments. The fabric has built-in soft actuators that expand, making the cloth thicker to trap air and adjust insulation.

Another creation, called SweatMD, is a wearable device that channels sweat through a microfluidic system. It uses sensing yarns to track health indicators such as glucose and potassium. The data, including hydration and fatigue levels, is then displayed on a smartphone.

Dahua Shou explained, “According to the World Meteorological Organisation, there is an 80% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will be the hottest on record. Personal cooling will be essential for health, comfort, and productivity. Our goal has been to create intelligent garments that not only cool the body when required but also monitor health in real time, almost like wearable superheroes.”