Samsung Electronics today announced it has published a joint research paper titled “Nano-Engineered Thin-Film Thermoelectric Materials Enable Practical Solid-State Refrigeration” with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). The paper details the development of a next-generation Peltier cooling technology and was published in the prestigious multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications.

Peltier devices achieve cooling via the Peltier effect, in which applying an electric current to a semiconductor causes one side to cool and the other to heat. As it requires no refrigerants, this method is gaining traction as a next-generation alternative to refrigerants that offers a lower-impact solution.

The paper is the result of a collaborative project between researchers from Samsung Research’s Life Solution Team and Dr. Rama Venkatasubramanian’s thermoelectrics research team within the physics, electronic materials and devices research program at APL.

Demonstration of World’s First High-Performance Peltier Refrigerator Opens the Door to Commercialization

By leveraging newly created thin-film Peltier semiconductor devices advanced through cutting-edge nano-engineering technology for the first time, the research team has successfully developed and demonstrated a high-performance Peltier refrigerator.

This thin-film Peltier refrigerator surpasses the cooling efficiency of traditional vapor compression refrigerators, creating the potential for the commercialization of next-generation refrigerators without refrigerants.

Compared to traditional vapor compression methods, Peltier cooling enables fast and precise temperature control with a simpler configuration, making it applicable to various industrial fields, including home appliances, semiconductors, medical devices, automotive electronics and data centers.

Nanofabrication Boosts Cooling and Resource Efficiency, Paving the Way for Solutions with Reduced Environmental Impact

For the commercialization of high-performance Peltier cooling, achieving superior cooling efficiency in Peltier semiconductor devices is essential.

Samsung and the APL research team have done this by improving the efficiency of Peltier devices by nearly 75% through the use of new thin-film semiconductor materials as well as miniaturization and lightweight design.

The newly developed Peltier device demonstrated significant advantages in terms of resource efficiency and mass production. The research team confirmed that the new manufacturing process not only drastically reduced the amount of Peltier materials required down to about 1/1,000 of the material typically required, but also simplified the production steps. This advancement enhanced scalability and enabled mass production, with promising prospects for significant gains in both cost-effectiveness and environmental impact.

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland is a not-for-profit university affiliated research center (UARC) that solves complex research, engineering, and analytical problems that present critical challenges to our nation. Our scientists, engineers, and analysts serve as trusted advisers and technical experts to the government, ensuring the reliability of complex technologies that safeguard our nation’s security and advance the frontiers of space. We also maintain independent research and development programs that pioneer and explore emerging technologies and concepts to address future national priorities. For more information, visit jhuapl.edu.

“The White House initiative provides an ideal platform for Samsung to help create a blueprint for the future of communications network development through collaboration with a diverse range of experts,” said Charlie Zhang. Vice President, Samsung Research America. “Supporting U.S. wireless leadership and next generation networks continues to be a priority for Samsung, and we look forward to helping expedite 5G innovation to enable more people to benefit from the next level of enhanced communications.”

With the AWRI, Samsung will provide guidance and assist in the development of new wireless testbeds, enabling researchers to examine and validate 5G technologies, spectrum usage paradigms, application performance and service behavior. As a board member, Samsung will also provide direction on future research initiatives.

Pioneering 5G Innovation

Samsung brings over 35 years of experience in developing innovative mobile telecommunications technologies and plays an active role in working with international standards organizations on standardizing 5G network development. The company has driven a wide range of 5G breakthroughs in the mmWave spectrum including:

• In 2013, Samsung recorded the world’s first gigabit per second throughput benchmark to a distance up to 2 kilometers using next-generation prototype technologies in mmWave spectrum.
• In 2014, Samsung set a speed record at 7.5Gbps in a stationary environment and became the first to demonstrate stable and uninterrupted mobile connections at 1.2Gbps from a vehicle traveling at over 100km/h.
• In March 2016, Samsung announced the success of world’s first multi-cell handover maintaining a gigabit data transmission, demonstrating a vehicle-in-motion maintaining a gigabit data transmission while moving between three transmitters.
• Recently, Samsung developed 5G-ready antenna and power amplifier technologies enabling smaller, more energy efficient 5G equipment and devices using 28GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum.

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