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News Releases 2. Nano-engineered Thermoelectrics Enable Scalable, Compressor-Free Cooling News Releases A close-up look at the testing and ice build up on a CHESS-based thermoelectric device. A close-up look at the testing and ice build up on a CHESS-based thermoelectric device. 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. Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman Listen to this article. Audio generated using AI. May 21, 2025 Katie Kerrigan Researchers at the Johns Hopkins 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 paper published in Nature Communications 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. "This real-world demonstration of refrigeration using new thermoelectric materials showcases the capabilities of nano-engineered CHESS thin films," said Rama Venkatasubramanian, principal investigator of the joint project and chief technologist for thermoelectrics at APL. "It 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." Nathan Fairbanks, Jon Pierce and Rama Venkatasubramanian (from left to right) Nathan Fairbanks, Jon Pierce and Rama Venkatasubramanian (from left to right) Nathan Fairbanks, Jon Pierce and Rama Venkatasubramanian (from left to right) analyze thin films made in the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) lab. The team used MOCVD to produce the CHESS materials. This method is well known for its scalability, cost-effectiveness and ability to support large-volume manufacturing. Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman A New Benchmark for Solid-State Cooling The push for more efficient and compact cooling technologies is fueled by a variety of factors, including population growth, urbanization and an increasing reliance on advanced electronics and data infrastructure. Conventional cooling systems, while effective, are often bulky, energy intensive and reliant on chemical refrigerants that can be harmful to the environment. Thermoelectric refrigeration is widely regarded as a potential solution. This method cools by using electrons to move heat through specialized semiconductor materials, eliminating the need for moving parts or harmful chemicals, making these next-generation refrigerators quiet, compact, reliable and sustainable. Bulk thermoelectric materials are used in small devices like mini-fridges, but their limited efficiency, low heat-pumping capacity and incompatibility with scalable semiconductor chip fabrication have historically prevented their wider use in high-performance systems. In the study, researchers compared refrigeration modules using traditional bulk thermoelectric materials with those using CHESS thin-film materials in standardized refrigeration tests, measuring and comparing the electrical power needed to achieve various cooling levels in the same commercial refrigerator test systems. The refrigeration team from Samsung Research's Life Solution Team, led by executive vice president Joonhyun Lee, collaborated with APL to validate the results through detailed thermal modeling, quantifying heat loads and thermal resistance parameters to ensure accurate performance evaluation under real-world conditions. The results were striking: Using CHESS materials, the APL team achieved nearly 100% improvement in efficiency over traditional thermoelectric materials at room temperature (around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 25 C). They then translated these material-level gains into a near 75% improvement in efficiency at the device level in thermoelectric modules built with CHESS materials and a 70% improvement in efficiency in a fully integrated refrigeration system, each representing a significant improvement over state-of-the-art bulk thermoelectric devices. These tests were completed under conditions that involved significant amounts of heat pumping to replicate practical operation. Jon Pierce, a senior research engineer at APL, examines a thin film grown using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition Jon Pierce, a senior research engineer at APL, examines a thin film grown using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition Jon Pierce, a senior research engineer at APL, examines a thin film grown using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, a method well known for its scalability, cost-effectiveness and ability to support large-volume manufacturing. Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Craig Weiman Built to Scale Beyond improving efficiency, the CHESS thin-film technology uses remarkably less material -- just 0.003 cubic centimeters, or about the size of a grain of sand, per refrigeration unit. This reduction in material means APL's thermoelectric materials could be mass-produced using semiconductor chip production tools, driving cost efficiency and enabling widespread market adoption. "This thin-film technology has the potential to grow from powering small-scale refrigeration systems to supporting large building HVAC applications, similar to the way lithium-ion batteries have been scaled to power devices as small as mobile phones and as large as electric vehicles," Venkatasubramanian said. Additionally, the CHESS materials were created using a well-established process commonly used to manufacture high-efficiency solar cells that power satellites and commercial LED lights. "We used metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) to produce the CHESS materials, a method well known for its scalability, cost-effectiveness and ability to support large-volume manufacturing," said Jon Pierce, a senior research engineer who leads the MOCVD growth capability at APL. "MOCVD is already widely used commercially, making it ideal for scaling up CHESS thin-film thermoelectric materials production." These materials and devices continue to show promise for a broad range of energy-harvesting and electronics applications in addition to the recent advances in refrigeration. APL plans to continue to partner with organizations to refine the CHESS thermoelectric materials with a focus on boosting efficiency to approach that of conventional mechanical systems. Future efforts include demonstrating larger-scale refrigeration systems, including freezers, and integrating artificial intelligence-driven methods to optimize energy efficiency in compartmentalized or distributed cooling in refrigeration and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment. "Beyond refrigeration, CHESS materials are also able to convert temperature differences, like body heat, into usable power," said Jeff Maranchi, Exploration Program Area manager in APL's Research and Exploratory Development Mission Area. "In addition to advancing next-generation tactile systems, prosthetics and human-machine interfaces, this opens the door to scalable energy-harvesting technologies for applications ranging from computers to spacecraft -- capabilities that weren't feasible with older, bulkier thermoelectric devices." "The success of this collaborative effort demonstrates that high-efficiency solid-state refrigeration is not only scientifically viable but manufacturable at scale," said Susan Ehrlich, an APL technology commercialization manager. "We're looking forward to continued research and technology transfer opportunities with companies as we work toward translating these innovations into practical, real-world applications." Related Video Enabling Scalable, Compressor-Free Cooling Play Video Access APL Innovation Close up of purple gloves and yellow chip Close up of purple gloves and yellow chip Tech Transfer APL technology can address industry needs that benefit our sponsors, the public, and the university and may foster economic development. Explore APL technologies and patents. Learn more about Tech Transfer Related Work Next-generation refrigeration (Credit: Johns Hopkins APL) Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Next-Gen Refrigeration Researchers at APL have developed nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric devices that are two times as efficient as currently used bulk devices in refrigeration. This advancement paves the way for compact, scalable, and compressor-free cooling. Learn more about Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Next-Gen Refrigeration Related Program Physics, Electronic Materials, and Devices Areas of Impact * Next-Generation Materials * Space Science and Engineering Mission Area * Research and Exploratory Development The Applied Physics Laboratory, a not-for-profit division of The Johns Hopkins University, meets critical national challenges through the innovative application of science and technology. For more information, visit www.jhuapl.edu. Media Contact Katie Kerrigan Katie.Kerrigan@jhuapl.edu 240-761-9046 Main Navigation * Work * Culture * Careers * Education * News * About Footer * Events * Newsletter * Contact * Twitter * Youtube * Instagram * Threads * Facebook * Linkedin Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Labratory Critical Contributions to Critical Challenges 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723-6099 | 240-228-5000 (c) 2025 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC. All rights reserved. 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