Abstract: | We study emissivity (ε)-dependent radiative heat transfer phenomena in remote and contact configurations. To demonstrate the emissivity-dependent radiative heating mode in a remote configuration, we fabricated miniature greenhouses covered with low (0.34)- and high-ε (0.86) polyethylene films and monitored temperatures on the floors, insides, and covers of the greenhouses during 24 h. The high-ε greenhouse yielded a 9-°C increase in floor temperature relative to the low-ε greenhouse at a one-sun solar irradiance because the high-ε film effectively trapped floor radiation. In contrast, the cover temperature remained lower in the high-ε greenhouse due to intensified radiation released from the high-ε film. This self-cooling effect was more evident when an emissive film was in physical contact with an object. While bare copper heated up to 55 °C, a high-ε film coated copper substrate was kept cooler by 4 and 2 °C compared with the bare and low-ε film coated copper samples, respectively. |