Samsung Electronics announces on Oct. 28 that the research paper on 'next-generation Peltier cooling technology,' conducted through an industry-academia collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, is published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. The photo shows the nano-thin film Peltier devices and high-efficiency Peltier refrigerator developed by Samsung Electronics and the Johns Hopkins University research team. /Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics announced on the 28th that a research paper on 'next-generation Peltier cooling technology' conducted in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is published in the prestigious journal 'Nature Communications.'

Peltier cooling is a technology that utilizes the effect of a Peltier semiconductor element, where one side becomes cold and the other side becomes hot when electricity is applied. It is particularly noted as an environmentally friendly and non-chemical next-generation cooling method since it does not use refrigerants.

This project involved researchers from Samsung Electronics' Samsung Research Life Solutions Team and Professor Rama Venkatasubramanian's research team at Johns Hopkins University.

The research team successfully developed a 'high-efficiency thin-film Peltier semiconductor element' using nanotechnology for the first time in the world and demonstrated a high-efficiency Peltier refrigerator utilizing it.

The Peltier refrigerator equipped with the new element has shown the potential for commercializing next-generation refrigerators without refrigerants that exceed the cooling efficiency of conventional vapor compression refrigerators.

Peltier cooling can control temperature quickly and accurately compared to vapor compression methods, making it applicable in various industries, including household appliances like refrigerators, semiconductors, medical devices, electrical equipment, and data centers.

For the commercialization of high-efficiency Peltier cooling, the cooling efficiency of Peltier semiconductor elements is vital. The research team explained that they introduced a different production process for semiconductor thin-film deposition, enhancing cooling efficiency by about 75% compared to existing methods while also achieving miniaturization and weight reduction.

With the implementation of the new production process, Samsung Electronics reported that the Peltier materials used in element development are only about 1/1000th of the previous levels, drastically improving economic viability and environmental friendliness.

Samsung Electronics noted that it plans to continue research on innovative technologies that will lead the future.