Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Tsukuba in Japan developed a heat-driven, elastocaloric cooling system, KIT announced on August 28.
The solid-state design uses thin shape-memory films. Heat makes one film move, and that movement helps the second film create a cooling effect without a conventional electric motor.
The team says the approach could eventually use waste heat or solar energy for sustainable cooling in places such as buildings and data centers.
This is a working prototype, not a ready-made appliance. Further experiments are needed to improve the amount of cooling and build larger systems.
