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A next-generation thermoelectric refrigeration technology developed by the ����ֱ�� Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has been named a winner in the , recognized as one of the 100 most innovative emerging technologies in research and development.

The refrigerator system runs on APL’s controlled hierarchically engineered superlattice structures (CHESS) — nano-engineered thermoelectric materials that transfer heat with significantly higher efficiency than conventional bulk thermoelectric materials. In joint testing with Samsung Research, CHESS nearly heat-pumping performance at the material level, and delivered up to 70% greater performance than currently available bulk thermoelectric devices in a fully integrated refrigerator system.

“This cooling system is the kind of innovative, scalable technology that can truly provide game-changing possibilities in a number of domains,” said APL Director Dave Van Wie. “This recognition for our staff members’ ingenuity and collaborative success is very well deserved, and exemplifies the fantastic work produced by all of our teams across the Laboratory.”

Beyond improving efficiency, the CHESS thin-film technology requires extremely small amounts of active material, addressing potential supply chain constraints, in order to meet the cooling needs of household refrigeration. The device technology also uses standard microelectronic semiconductor tools, making it well suited for cost-effective, large-scale adoption.

“This technology could scale from ultra-small refrigeration systems to large building-scale HVAC applications, much like lithium-ion batteries now power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles,” said Rama Venkatasubramanian, lead developer and chief technologist for thermoelectrics at APL. “I’m grateful to our talented team and collaborators for helping advance the nano-engineered CHESS thin-film thermoelectric materials and devices for so many potential applications.”

APL has won multiple R&D 100 Awards in recent years, including for the Frontier-X radio system in 2024 that introduced a compact, high-performance communications platform for space missions, and the Wearable Thin-Film Thermoelectric Cooling device in 2023, an ultracompact system that also uses CHESS to deliver cooling sensations in phantom limbs, prosthetics and haptics.