Energy-saving, silent, and eco-friendly cooling—without compressors
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has announced a breakthrough cooling technology that could transform refrigerators, air conditioners, and beyond. Unlike traditional compressor-based systems, this innovation relies on a novel nanomaterial called CHESS (Controlled Hierarchically Engineered Superlattice Structures). By simply applying an electric current, CHESS enables heat transfer for cooling—no motors, no gases, and no environmentally harmful refrigerants.
A Leap Beyond Conventional Thermoelectrics
Small-scale thermoelectric coolers have existed for decades, but their low efficiency prevented adoption in household and commercial systems. In this study, CHESS materials achieved nearly twice the efficiency of conventional thermoelectric materials, resulting in a 70% efficiency improvement at the system level for refrigerators. Samsung Research independently validated the findings, reinforcing confidence in their real-world applicability.
Scalable, Cost-Effective, and Versatile
Remarkably, only a grain-of-sand-sized amount of CHESS material is needed to build a cooling unit. This enables mass production using standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques, such as MOCVD (metal-organic chemical vapor deposition), already widely used in LEDs and solar cells. The potential spans from consumer appliances to building-scale HVAC systems and data center cooling, where efficiency gains could have a massive impact.
More Than Cooling: Power Generation Potential
Beyond cooling, CHESS materials can also convert body heat into electricity, opening the door to applications in wearable devices, biomedical sensors, and even space exploration systems. Traditional thermoelectric materials lacked the performance for such uses, but CHESS now offers a compelling pathway to dual-purpose cooling and power generation.
Key Terms
CHESS (Controlled Hierarchically Engineered Superlattice Structures)
A new nanomaterial developed by APL that enables compact, highly efficient, and eco-friendly cooling.
Thermoelectric Refrigeration
A solid-state cooling method that transfers heat through electric current. It requires no motors or gases, making it quiet, simple, and environmentally friendly.
MOCVD (Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition)
A well-established materials fabrication process used in LEDs and solar panels, allowing cost-effective, large-scale production of CHESS materials.
