Cold without the compressor: Boffins build better ice box

Scientists at Johns Hopkins and Samsung have developed a nano-engineered thermoelectric material that is twice as efficient at material-level cooling as existing alternatives, paving the way for broader adoption of solid-state refrigeration technology.

Commercial refrigeration and air conditioning tend to use compressors that pump vaporized refrigerant through a cooling system. The chemicals used in this process aren't great for the environment, and it's bulky and energy intensive at scale.

Thermoelectric cooling offers an alternative approach, sending electric current through specialized semiconductor material. It's used in wine coolers, mini-fridges, cooled seating, and a handful of other consumer products, but has limitations – it works in a narrower range of ambient temperatures, offers less cooling capability, and hasn't been compatible with high-volume semiconductor fabrication.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), in conjunction with Samsung Research engineers, have devised thin-film thermoelectric materials that deliver a twofold boost ...