Development of a sustainable solid-state barocaloric cooler

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Cooling is essential for food and drinks, medicine, electronics and thermal comfort. Thermal changes due to pressure-driven phase transitions in fluids have long been used in vapour-compression systems to achieve continuous refrigeration and air conditioning, but their energy efficiency is relatively low, and the working fluids that are employed harm the environment when released to the atmosphere. We aim at developing the first energy-efficient barocaloric cooling prototype, based on novel barocaloric materials that are made of cheap abundant elements. Switching to such affordable efficient cooling technology would reduce the power consumption that is required worldwide for refrigeration and air conditioning, which is increasing particularly rapidly in low-income and lower-middle-income developing countries, and would obviate the need for harmful gases. Novel barocaloric refrigerators and air conditioners that are affordable and sustainable could therefore ease the looming energy crisis and protect the environment.