Molecule-based Magneto/electro/mechano-Calorics

MolCal将在近环境和极低温度下固态制冷和加热应用的热量材料和能量转换技术方面建立一批有前途的探索性课题的研究人员。温度控制系统约占欧盟能源消耗支出的一半。仅这一数字就充分证明有必要致力于寻找替代制冷和热泵方法。热能材料的研究从来没有像现在这样活跃，一方面是因为新一代冰箱和热泵的前景是节能和环保的，另一方面是关于低能耗和全球变暖制冷剂的政策。MolCal提出了一种以前从未在类似的合作研究培训计划中尝试过的方法。我们将考虑属于基于分子的材料的保护伞，并可以对驱动刺激的不同来源做出反应的热量材料，无论是磁的、电的和/或机械的。由于对于哪种类型的热能材料最有希望没有明确的共识，这种多方面的方法将是一个优势，因为它将允许将已经从磁热领域开发的方法转移到其他领域，这些领域因其巨大的潜力而日益成为聚光灯下的焦点。此外，MolCal将开发基于低成本高压热材料的设备，由于分子特性，将通过探索磁性冰箱最小尺寸的极限来实现具有挑战性的应用。来自欧洲和国外顶尖研究机构的学术和非学术领袖将让博士生研究人员接受化学、材料科学、物理、设备开发和相关横向技能方面的综合、多学科和多部门培训。

MolCal will contribute to establishing a critical mass of researchers in promising exploratory topics on caloric materials and energy conversion technologies for solid-state cooling and heating applications at near-ambient and very-low temperatures. Temperature control systems are responsible for approximately half of the EU energy consumption expenditure. This figure alone amply justifies the need to dedicate great efforts to the search for alternative refrigeration and heat pump methods. Research on caloric materials has never been as active as it is now, due to the prospect of new-generation refrigerators and heat pumps that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly, on the one hand, and the policies on low-energy consumption and global warming refrigerants, on the other. MolCal presents an approach never tried before in similar collaborative research training programmes. We will consider caloric materials that fall under the umbrella of molecule-based materials and can respond to different sources of the driving stimulus, be it magnetic, electric, and/or mechanical. Since there is no clear-cut consensus on which type of caloric material holds the most promise, this multi-front approach will be an advantage because it will permit transfer of methods already developed from the magnetocaloric subfield into the others, which are increasingly in the spotlight because of their enormous potentiality. Furthermore, MolCal will develop devices based on low-cost barocaloric materials and, due to the molecular characteristics, will progress towards challenging applications by exploring the limits of the smallest size of magnetic refrigerators. Academic and non-academic leaders, from top research institutions in Europe and outside, will expose the doctoral researchers to integrative, multidisciplinary, and multisectoral training in chemistry, materials science, physics, device development, and relevant transversal skills.