Meet ionocaloric cooling, a groundbreaking approach to refrigeration that’s eco-friendly and promising. Instead of traditional methods that use harmful refrigerants, this technique harnesses temperature changes in materials to keep things cold.
Traditional refrigeration relies on fluids that absorb heat, transforming from liquid to gas as they cycle through a system. This method is effective but often involves materials that can harm the environment.
Ionocaloric cooling offers a fresh solution. Developed in 2023 by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley, this method plays with how materials change states, like ice melting into water. When ice melts, it absorbs heat, cooling its surroundings, a principle that can be utilized for efficient cooling.
A example of this process is similar to using salt to prevent ice on roads. The ionocaloric cycle uses ions—charged particles—to change a fluid’s state, helping cool its environment. “The landscape of refrigerants is an unsolved problem,” says mechanical engineer Drew Lilley. He emphasizes that no alternative solution has yet matched the needs for efficiency, safety, and environmental friendliness.
Researchers tested a salt mixture containing iodine and sodium, which melts ethylene carbonate—a common organic solvent used in batteries. Excitingly, this method could achieve a negative global warming potential (GWP), meaning it could actively help combat climate change. They observed a temperature drop of 25°C (45°F) with less than one volt of electrical charge, which outperforms other cooling technologies.
Prasher, another engineer from the team, mentions, “We aim to balance GWP of refrigerants, energy efficiency, and equipment cost.” Initial results show that ionocaloric cooling holds great promise for all three aspects.
The current refrigeration technology relies on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have a high GWP. The Kigali Amendment, an international agreement, aims to reduce HFC use by 80% over the next 25 years. Technologies like ionocaloric cooling could be vital in meeting these goals.
Next, researchers are working on moving this technology beyond the lab to be commercially viable. Future applications could include heating as well as cooling. They are experimenting with different salts to find the most effective combinations for heat absorption.
A 2025 study revealed a highly efficient version using nitrate-based salts, recycled with electric fields, aligning with what researchers expected from their investigations. “We’ve shown that this new thermodynamic cycle works,” says Prasher. Now, they’re focused on refining materials and techniques to solve practical engineering challenges in the field.
This research was detailed in the journal Science, and it marks a promising step towards a greener future in cooling technology.
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