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Nano-engineered Thermoelectrics Enable Scalable, Compressor-Free Cooling

Pictured: A close-up look at the testing and ice buildup on a CHESS-based thermoelectric device. This testing system helps evaluate how efficiently the new materials convert electricity into cooling, paving the way for more effective cooling and energy-harvesting technologies.

Image Credit: 秘密直播 APL/Ed Whitman

Researchers at the 秘密直播 Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, have developed a new, easily manufacturable solid-state thermoelectric refrigeration technology with nano-engineered materials that is twice as efficient as devices made with commercially available bulk thermoelectric materials. As global demand grows for more energy-efficient, reliable and compact cooling solutions, this advancement offers a scalable alternative to traditional compressor-based refrigeration.

In a on May 21, 2025, a team of researchers from APL and refrigeration engineers from Samsung Research demonstrated improved heat-pumping efficiency and capacity in refrigeration systems attributable to high-performance nano-engineered thermoelectric materials invented at APL known as controlled hierarchically engineered superlattice structures (CHESS).

The CHESS technology is the result of 10 years of APL research in advanced nano-engineered thermoelectric materials and applications development. Initially developed for national security applications, the material has also been used for noninvasive cooling therapies for prosthetics and won an R&D 100 award in 2023.

鈥淭his real-world demonstration of refrigeration using new thermoelectric materials showcases the capabilities of nano-engineered CHESS thin films,鈥 said Rama Venkatasubramanian, principal investigator of the joint project and chief technologist for thermoelectrics at APL. 鈥淚t marks a significant leap in cooling technology and sets the stage for translating advances in thermoelectric materials into practical, large-scale, energy-efficient refrigeration applications.鈥

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