Preparation of ZnO:(Al, La)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nonwovens with low infrared emissivity via electrospinning

•ZnO:(Al, La)/PAN nonwovens were firstly prepared by electrospinning.•The infrared emissivity of nonwovens at the waveband 8–14 μm was low to 0.793.•This material was applied in military camouflage field.

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nonwovens with infrared stealthy performance were successfully prepared via electrospinning. ZnO:(Al, La) dispersion mixed with PAN solution, then the solution was electrospun to obtain ZnO:(Al, La)/PAN nanocomposite. The infrared stealthy performance of ZnO:(Al, La)/PAN nonwovens was characterized by IR-2 dual-band infrared emissivity measuring instrument and thermal infrared imaging system. Results showed that the infrared emissivity of nonwoven fabric at the waveband 8–14 µm was low to 0.793, which could be matched in the surroundings of withered grass or rock under the non-sunshine time.