Thermal Metamaterials: Markets, Technology 2026-2046

1. Executive summary and conclusions

• 1.1 Purpose of this report
• 1.2 Methodology of this analysis
• 1.3 Thermal functions and applications
  • 1.3.1 Market drivers and general situation
  • 1.3.2 Applications analysed from sensors to surgical robots and spacecraft
• 1.4 Primary conclusions; market positioning
• 1.5 Primary conclusions: leading formulations, functionality and manufacturing technologies
• 1.6 Popularity by formulation in 132 examples of latest thermal metamaterial research
• 1.7 Static to dynamic heat transfer using metamaterials
• 1.8 Static radiative cooling materials showing metamaterials as one of many options
• 1.9 SWOT appraisals
  • 1.9.1 SWOT of thermal metamaterials, metasurfaces and meta-devices
  • 1.9.2 SWOT appraisal of Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling PDRC
  • 1.9.3 SWOT appraisal of self-cooling radiative metafabric
• 1.10 Thermal metamaterial and cooling roadmap by market and by technology 2026-2046
• 1.11 Market forecasts as tables and graphs 2026-2046 in 22 lines including 1.12, tables, graphs, explanation
  • 1.11.1 Meta-device market electromagnetic vs thermal with infrared in electromagnetic category $ billion 2025-2046
  • 1.11.2 Thermal meta-device market $ billion 2025-2046 by application segment
• 1.12 Background market forecasts as tables and graphs 2026-2046
  • 1.12.1 Cooling module global market by seven technologies $ billion 2025-2046
  • 1.12.2 Terrestrial radiative cooling performance in commercial products W/sq. m 2025-2046
  • 1.12.3 Air conditioner value market $ billion 2024-2046
  • 1.12.4 Global market for HVAC, refrigerators, freezers, other cooling $ billion 2025-2046
  • 1.12.5 Refrigerator and freezer value market $ billion 2024-2046
  • 1.12.6 Thermal management material and structure for 6G Communications infrastructure and client devices $ billion if 6G is successful 2026-2046
  • 1.12.7 Dielectric and thermal materials for 6G value market % by location 2029-2046

2. Introduction

• 2.1 Overview
• 2.2 Types of metamaterial thermal management materials
• 2.3 Three families of metamaterials overlap
• 2.4 Cooling needs increase for many reasons 2026-2046
  • 2.4.1 Escalation of demand for air conditioning and forthcoming changes in requirement
  • 2.4.2 Problems of traditional vapor compression cooling and progress to solid state cooling
  • 2.4.3 Desire to eliminate liquid cooling for electric vehicles and solid-state cool solar panels
  • 2.4.4 Severe new microchip cooling requirements arriving
  • 2.4.5 Much greater need for thermal materials in 6G Communications
  • 2.4.6 Other cooling problems and opportunities emerging in electronics and ICT
• 2.5 How cooling technology will trend to smart materials 2026-2046
• 2.6 Cooling is the largest potential for thermal metamaterials
• 2.7 The potential for ultra-conductive thermal metamaterials
• 2.8 Temperature responsive and controlling metamaterials
• 2.9 Undesirable materials widely used and proposed: this is an opportunity for you

3. Thermal metamaterial principles and functions

• 3.1 Overview
• 3.2 Basis in physics
• 3.3 Examples of new theoretical approaches in 2026 leading to new applications
• 3.4 Types of metamaterial thermal management materials with the currently most commercialised sectors
• 3.5 How three families of metamaterials overlap
• 3.6 Examples of thermal metamaterial structures in 2026 and earlier advances
• 3.7 SWOT assessment for thermal metamaterials and metasurfaces
• 3.8 Commercially important functions
  • 3.8.1 Thermally radiative metamaterials, advanced photonic cooling and prevention of heating
  • 3.8.2 Ultra-conductive thermal metamaterials
  • 3.8.3 Thermal convective metamaterials
  • 3.8.4 Multimodal thermal metamaterials
• 3.9 Thermal cloak, camouflage, concentrator, diode, expander, rotator metamaterials
  • 3.9.1 Introduction
  • 3.9.2 Thermal cloaks and camouflage
  • 3.9.3 Thermal concentrators
  • 3.9.4 Thermal diodes
  • 3.9.5 Thermal expanders
  • 3.9.6 Thermal rotators
• 3.10 Multifunctional thermal metamaterials with examples from 2024-5
• 3.11 Far more options for thermal metamaterials ahead

4. The next stage: Active, dynamic and tunable thermal metamaterials

• 4.1 Overview
• 4.2 4D printing and multi-coupling of thermal metamaterials
• 4.3 Use of electrochemistry
• 4.4 Examples of progress and target applications
  • 4.4.1 Tunable liquid-solid hybrid thermal metamaterials
  • 4.4.2 Unified static and dynamic thermal metamaterials
  • 4.4.3 Sensing and responding to ambient temperatures
  • 4.4.4 Advanced thermal radiation devices: stealth with thermal management
  • 4.4.5 Active remote sensing and thermal camouflage
  • 4.4.6 Dynamic control of heat flux and heat flow direction possibly for electric vehicle batteries
  • 4.4.7 Adaptive radiative cooling and passive thermoregulation
• 4.5 Thermal-mechanical metamaterials
  • 4.5.1 Overview
  • 4.5.2 Programmable mechanical-thermal metamaterials

5. Manufacturing technologies and materials for thermal metamaterials

• 5.1 Overview including needs, approaches, materials and additive vs subtractive options
• 5.2 Additive manufacturing design, fabrication, property and application
• 5.3 3D printing of thermal meta-devices
  • 5.3.1 Metal 3D printing of thermal meta-devices
  • 5.3.2 Metal polymer and metal graphene 3D printing of thermal meta-devices
  • 5.3.3 Functionally graded materials in thermal meta-structures
  • 5.3.4 Other materials options
• 5.4 Printing technologies for laminar thermal metamaterials manipulating infrared radiation
• 5.5 Materials and manufacturing technologies for Passive Daylight Radiation Cooling PDRC using thermal metamaterials

6. Many targeted applications of thermal metamaterials with research advances 2025-6

• 6.1 Overview: applications from sensors to surgical robots and spacecraft
• 6.2 Compact polarised light emitters
• 6.3 Computers to aerospace engineering: heat transfer
• 6.4 Greenhouses and windows
• 6.5 Energy harvesting advances using thermal metamaterials in
• 6.6 Metalens – thermal
• 6.7 Microchip cooling
• 6.8 Photovoltaics cooling
• 6.9 Satellite thermal control
• 6.10 Thermal packaging of electronics
• 6.11 Textiles that cool
• 6.12 Thermoelectric harvesters and coolers enhanced by thermal metamaterials
• 6.13 Thermostats energy-free thermostat and negative-energy and multi-temperature maintenance container
• 6.14 Vehicle cooling paint

7. Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) using metamaterials

• 7.1 Overview with SWOT appraisal
• 7.2 Radiative cooling based on thermal metamaterials compared to alternatives
• 7.3 Approach using translucent thermal metamaterials in 2024: patterned PDMS
• 7.4 Transparent PDRC for facades, solar panels and windows using thermal metamaterials
• 7.5 Cellulosic power generating and other radiative cooling wearable meta-fabrics with SWOT appraisal
• 7.6 Metamaterial PDRC cold side boosting power of thermoelectric generators in
• 7.7 Other metamaterial radiative cooling research 2024 and
• 7.8 Commercialisation of metamaterial cooling
  • 7.8.1 Radi-Cool Japan, Malaysia
  • 7.8.2 SRI USA
• 7.9 PDRC including beyond the metamaterial options – new report