Nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigeration
Abstract Refrigeration needs are increasing worldwide with a demand for alternates to bulky poorly scalable vapor compression systems. Here, we demonstrate the first proof of practical solid-state refrigeration, using nano-engineered controlled hierarchically engineered superlattice thin-film thermo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59698-y |
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| _version_ | 1849326038651240448 |
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| author | Jake Ballard Matthew Hubbard Sung-Jin Jung Vanessa Rojas Richard Ung Junwoo Suh MinSoo Kim Joonhyun Lee Jonathan M. Pierce Rama Venkatasubramanian |
| author_facet | Jake Ballard Matthew Hubbard Sung-Jin Jung Vanessa Rojas Richard Ung Junwoo Suh MinSoo Kim Joonhyun Lee Jonathan M. Pierce Rama Venkatasubramanian |
| author_sort | Jake Ballard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Refrigeration needs are increasing worldwide with a demand for alternates to bulky poorly scalable vapor compression systems. Here, we demonstrate the first proof of practical solid-state refrigeration, using nano-engineered controlled hierarchically engineered superlattice thin-film thermoelectric materials. With 100%-better thermoelectric materials figure of merit, ZT, than the conventional bulk materials near 300 K, we demonstrate (i) module-level ZT greater than 75% and (ii) a system-level refrigeration ZT 70% better than that of bulk devices. Thin-film thermoelectric modules offer 100–300% better coefficient-of-performance than bulk devices depending on operational scenarios; system-level coefficient-of-performance is ~15 for temperature differentials of 1.3 °C. The thin-film devices enable more heat pumping per P-N couple, relevant for distributed and portable refrigeration, and electronics cooling. Beyond the demonstration of nano-engineered materials for a system-level advantage, we utilize 1/1000th active materials with scalable microelectronic manufacturing. The improved efficiency and ultra-low thermoelectric materials usage herald a new beginning in solid-state refrigeration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36e9e33120a945dcb50558d982d04320 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-36e9e33120a945dcb50558d982d043202025-08-20T03:48:15ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-011611910.1038/s41467-025-59698-yNano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigerationJake Ballard0Matthew Hubbard1Sung-Jin Jung2Vanessa Rojas3Richard Ung4Junwoo Suh5MinSoo Kim6Joonhyun Lee7Jonathan M. Pierce8Rama Venkatasubramanian9Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)Samsung Research, Samsung ElectronicsJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)Samsung Research, Samsung ElectronicsSamsung Research, Samsung ElectronicsSamsung Research, Samsung ElectronicsJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)Abstract Refrigeration needs are increasing worldwide with a demand for alternates to bulky poorly scalable vapor compression systems. Here, we demonstrate the first proof of practical solid-state refrigeration, using nano-engineered controlled hierarchically engineered superlattice thin-film thermoelectric materials. With 100%-better thermoelectric materials figure of merit, ZT, than the conventional bulk materials near 300 K, we demonstrate (i) module-level ZT greater than 75% and (ii) a system-level refrigeration ZT 70% better than that of bulk devices. Thin-film thermoelectric modules offer 100–300% better coefficient-of-performance than bulk devices depending on operational scenarios; system-level coefficient-of-performance is ~15 for temperature differentials of 1.3 °C. The thin-film devices enable more heat pumping per P-N couple, relevant for distributed and portable refrigeration, and electronics cooling. Beyond the demonstration of nano-engineered materials for a system-level advantage, we utilize 1/1000th active materials with scalable microelectronic manufacturing. The improved efficiency and ultra-low thermoelectric materials usage herald a new beginning in solid-state refrigeration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59698-y |
| spellingShingle | Jake Ballard Matthew Hubbard Sung-Jin Jung Vanessa Rojas Richard Ung Junwoo Suh MinSoo Kim Joonhyun Lee Jonathan M. Pierce Rama Venkatasubramanian Nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigeration Nature Communications |
| title | Nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigeration |
| title_full | Nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigeration |
| title_fullStr | Nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigeration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigeration |
| title_short | Nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid-state refrigeration |
| title_sort | nano engineered thin film thermoelectric materials enable practical solid state refrigeration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59698-y |
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