Laurel, Maryland – Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) have unveiled a transformative solid-state refrigeration technology that substantially outperforms existing methods. This innovation, reliant on advanced nano-engineered materials, boasts double the efficiency of commercially available thermoelectric cooling systems, offering a potential solution to the escalating global demand for sustainable cooling.

The advancement stems from collaborative efforts between APL researchers and engineers from Samsung Research, as detailed in a recent publication in Nature Communications. The core of this leap forward lies in “controlled hierarchically engineered superlattice structures” (CHESS), a high-performance nano-engineered material developed at APL.

Decade of Growth Culminates in Breakthrough

The CHESS technology is the result of a decade-long undertaking at APL, initially driven by national security requirements.It has since found application in non-invasive cooling therapies for prosthetic limbs, earning an R&D 100 award in 2023. Rama Venkatasubramanian, Chief Technologist for Thermoelectrics at APL and principal investigator on the project, emphasized the technology’s potential to reshape the landscape of cooling applications.

“This presentation showcases the power of nano-engineered CHESS thin films and represents a pivotal step towards practical,large-scale,energy-efficient refrigeration,” Venkatasubramanian stated.

Addressing a Growing Global Need

Rising populations, increasing urbanization, and the proliferation of advanced electronics are driving an urgent need for more effective cooling solutions. Traditional refrigeration systems,while prevalent,often suffer from bulkiness,high energy consumption,and the use of environmentally damaging chemical refrigerants. According to a recent report by the International energy Agency, space cooling alone could account for 13% of global electricity demand by 2050. https://www.iea.org/reports/cooling-outlook-2023

Thermoelectric refrigeration offers a promising choice. By leveraging electrons to transfer heat via specialized semiconductor materials, it eliminates the need for moving parts and harmful chemicals, resulting in quieter, more compact, and sustainable units.

Performance Gains Validated by Samsung Research

rigorous testing, conducted in standardized refrigeration environments, compared modules utilizing conventional thermoelectric materials with those employing CHESS thin-film materials. Researchers meticulously measured electrical power consumption for varying cooling levels. Samsung Research’s Life Solution Team, led by Executive Vice President Joonhyun Lee, performed detailed thermal modeling to validate the results, confirming the accuracy of performance evaluations.

The outcomes were pronounced. Devices incorporating CHESS materials demonstrated nearly a 100% improvement in efficiency at room temperature (approximately 77 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees Celsius) compared to their traditional counterparts. This translated to approximately a 75% enhancement at the device level and a 70% increase within a fully integrated refrigeration system.

Scalability and Manufacturing Advantages

Beyond its superior performance,the CHESS thin-film technology drastically reduces material requirements-using merely 0.003 cubic centimeters per refrigeration unit, equivalent to the size of a grain of sand.This minimal material usage, coupled with compatibility with existing semiconductor chip fabrication processes, promises cost-effective mass production.

Venkatasubramanian suggests the technology’s potential extends far beyond small-scale refrigeration. “This thin-film technology has the potential to scale toward supporting large building HVAC applications, mirroring the trajectory of lithium-ion batteries-from powering mobile phones to electric vehicles.”

The manufacturing process itself utilizes metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD),a technique already widely employed in the production of high-efficiency solar cells and LED lighting. Jon Pierce, a Senior Research Engineer at APL, highlighted the benefits of this established methodology.”MOCVD is ideal for scaling up CHESS production, thanks to its cost-effectiveness and capacity for large-volume manufacturing.”

Did You Know? Thermoelectric refrigeration, while promising, historically faced limitations due to the low efficiency and scalability of bulk materials. the CHESS technology directly addresses these challenges.

APL intends to continue refining the CHESS materials, aiming to achieve efficiencies comparable to conventional mechanical systems. Future plans involve demonstrating larger-scale systems, including freezers, and integrating artificial intelligence to optimize energy efficiency in complex cooling applications.

Jeff Maranchi, Exploration Program Area manager at APL, noted the versatility of CHESS materials.”Beyond refrigeration, CHESS materials can convert temperature differences – such as body heat – into usable power, opening doors for energy harvesting applications in computers, spacecraft, and advanced prosthetics.

“This collaborative success demonstrates that high-efficiency solid-state refrigeration isn’t merely a scientific concept; it is indeed now demonstrably manufacturable at scale,” said Susan Ehrlich, an APL technology commercialization manager.

The Future of Cooling: A Deeper Dive

The development of CHESS materials marks a significant stride in the field of thermoelectricity, a technology that offers a pathway to more sustainable and efficient energy solutions. While the initial focus is on refrigeration,the underlying principles of converting thermal energy into electrical energy and vice versa have broader implications. Advancements in thermoelectric materials could potentially revolutionize waste heat recovery, turning otherwise lost energy into usable power. https://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/technology-topics/energy-efficiency/thermoelectrics

Pro Tip: When assessing the environmental impact of cooling technologies, consider not only energy consumption but also the lifecycle of the refrigerants used. thermoelectric systems, by eliminating the need for traditional refrigerants, offer a significant advantage in this regard.

What other industries could benefit from this breakthrough in thermoelectric cooling? How will the scalability of this technology impact its adoption rate?

Frequently Asked Questions About Thermoelectric Cooling

• What is thermoelectric cooling? Thermoelectric cooling uses the Peltier effect to create a temperature difference by transporting heat via electricity, without requiring moving parts.
• How does the CHESS technology improve upon existing thermoelectric materials? CHESS materials are nano-engineered to have significantly higher efficiency and heat-pumping capacity than traditional bulk thermoelectric materials.
• Is this technology commercially available now? While not yet widely available, APL is actively seeking partnerships to scale up production and bring this technology to market.
• What are the potential applications beyond refrigerators? potential applications include HVAC systems, waste heat recovery, and even powering devices with body heat.
• How does the manufacturing process contribute to the scalability of CHESS materials? The use of MOCVD, a widely used and cost-effective manufacturing technique, allows for large-volume production.
• What is the environmental impact of this new technology? Eliminating the need for harmful chemical refrigerants and reducing energy consumption significantly lowers the environmental impact.