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Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory researchers have developed a new polymeric material that provides a larger electrocaloric effect than previously known polymer materials.

Highly-efficient, solid-state cooling devices offer the promise of greatly improved energy efficiency relative to vapor-compression refrigeration systems.  These cooling devices take advantage of the caloric effect that some materials undergo in the presence of electrical or magnetic fields or in response to stress.  The particular characteristics of the material, and the magnitude of the caloric effect relative to the external field or stress, will determine the success of the cooling system.

Polar fluorinated polymers have been shown to have a large electrocaloric effect, but thus far the magnitude of that effect has been insufficient to build practical cooling devices.  Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory researchers have developed a family of fluorinated polymers with enhanced electrocaloric effect relative to those previously known.  The researcher are in the process of demonstrating the improved performance of the materials in a variety of applications.

• Larger electrocaloric effect than other polymeric materials.

Electrocaloric cooling

Patent(s) applied for