CHESS Thin-Film Thermoelectric Refrigeration Technology
Category: Mechanical/Materials
Developers: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Product Description:Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and Samsung Research developed a scalable solid-state thermoelectric cooling technology using nano-engineered materials. Easily manufactured with semiconductor tools, it offers a compact, energy-efficient solution to meet growing cooling demands and an alternative to traditional compressor-based refrigeration. CHESS is a nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric material that has enabled solid-state refrigeration systems nearly twice as efficient as current bulk thermoelectric devices. Tested in collaboration with Samsung Research, CHESS-based thermoelectric materials demonstrated a 70–100% efficiency improvement across materials, modules and complete refrigeration systems, using just 0.003 cc of material per unit. Originally developed for national security and medical applications, CHESS thermoelectric materials now offer potential for a wide range of energy-efficient cooling solutions. Manufactured using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)—a commercially scalable process also used in LED and solar cell production—CHESS thin-film technology is compatible with semiconductor chip fabrication methods. This enables compact, compressor-free cooling systems that are quiet, reliable and scalable. Much like lithium-ion batteries scaled from powering mobile phones to electric vehicles, CHESS is expected to scale from small refrigeration units to large HVAC systems. Beyond cooling, CHESS materials can also harvest energy from temperature gradients, unlocking potential applications in wearables, computing, and spacecraft.
Developers: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Product Description:Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and Samsung Research developed a scalable solid-state thermoelectric cooling technology using nano-engineered materials. Easily manufactured with semiconductor tools, it offers a compact, energy-efficient solution to meet growing cooling demands and an alternative to traditional compressor-based refrigeration. CHESS is a nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric material that has enabled solid-state refrigeration systems nearly twice as efficient as current bulk thermoelectric devices. Tested in collaboration with Samsung Research, CHESS-based thermoelectric materials demonstrated a 70–100% efficiency improvement across materials, modules and complete refrigeration systems, using just 0.003 cc of material per unit. Originally developed for national security and medical applications, CHESS thermoelectric materials now offer potential for a wide range of energy-efficient cooling solutions. Manufactured using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)—a commercially scalable process also used in LED and solar cell production—CHESS thin-film technology is compatible with semiconductor chip fabrication methods. This enables compact, compressor-free cooling systems that are quiet, reliable and scalable. Much like lithium-ion batteries scaled from powering mobile phones to electric vehicles, CHESS is expected to scale from small refrigeration units to large HVAC systems. Beyond cooling, CHESS materials can also harvest energy from temperature gradients, unlocking potential applications in wearables, computing, and spacecraft.
