Scalable irradiance-adaptive electrochromic shading for photothermal regulation

Abstract

Abstract Agricultural production in hot climates requires effective photothermal regulation under fluctuating solar conditions. Electrochromic devices offer a promising route for dynamic photothermal regulation, yet their deployment in real-world agricultural environments remains limited by challenges in scalability, durability, and system-level integration. Here, we show a scalable, solar-powered, irradiance-adaptive electrochromic shading system that autonomously regulates photosynthetically active radiation and suppresses ultraviolet and near-infrared radiation under fluctuating outdoor conditions without external energy input. The electrochromic devices exhibit large optical contrast and robust operational stability during tropical outdoor exposure. Field deployment in tropical agriculture reduces crop-surrounding temperature by up to 3.8 °C while maintaining optimal conditions for photosynthesis. Consequently, crops grown under electrochromic shading exhibit 23.7–64% increases in vitamin C, total sugar, and pigments, together with a 235% increase in biomass yield compared with a conventional shading system. Cultivation modeling further reveals substantial cooling-energy savings across diverse climate zones during hot seasons.