Sub-zero Celsius elastocaloric cooling via low-transition-temperature alloys.
biomechanical · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41535466.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41586-025-09946-4.
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Abstract
Elastocaloric cooling using shape-memory alloys (SMAs) is a promising greenhouse gas (GHG)-free alternative to conventional vapour-compression refrigeration that relies on high global warming potential (GWP) gas refrigerants<sup>1-4</sup>. However, existing elastocaloric systems have not yet reached sub-zero Celsius temperatures, which restricts their application in various freezing scenarios<sup>5,6</sup>. Here we constructed a compression-based, regenerative elastocaloric cooling device using low-transition-temperature tubular NiTi units in a cascaded configuration. The selected NiTi alloy exhibited superelasticity and substantial entropy changes down to -20 °C. Moreover, low-freezing-point aqueous calcium chloride solution was used as the heat-transfer fluid, ensuring effective flow at low operational temperatures. Our desktop device achieved a heat-source temperature of -12 °C from a room-temperature heat sink, paving the way for next-generation green elastocaloric freezing technologies.