3 Minutes
Samsung's next-generation solid-state cooling wins recognition
Samsung Research’s Life Solution Team, collaborating with Dr. Rama Venkatasubramanian’s thermoelectrics group, has advanced Peltier-based cooling using nanotechnology. By reengineering thermoelectric materials at the nanoscale, the teams dramatically boosted performance and efficiency of a Peltier device — a solid-state cooler that uses semiconductor elements instead of traditional refrigerants.
Technology and performance
How the nanotech upgrade works
The innovation layers nanostructured materials into the thermoelectric junctions to reduce thermal losses and improve charge transport. The results: up to a 75% increase in cooling efficiency compared with earlier Peltier modules, while using just 1/1,000th of the active material. This enables compact, lightweight thermoelectric modules optimized for power density and rapid heat pumping.
Product features
- Refrigerant-free, solid-state cooling (thermoelectric/Peltier)
- Up to 75% higher efficiency vs previous generation
- Material reduction to 0.1% of prior volumes, enabling smaller form factors
- Improved reliability and fewer moving parts
- Compatibility with AI-driven thermal management systems (Samsung’s AI Hybrid Refrigerator precedent)
Comparisons and advantages
Against conventional vapor-compression systems
Thermoelectric cooling eliminates greenhouse-gas refrigerants and complex compressors, delivering cleaner operation and simpler maintenance. While traditional refrigeration still leads for large-scale bulk cooling per dollar today, the new nanotech Peltier narrows the efficiency gap and excels where size, weight, and environmental impact matter.
Against earlier Peltier generations
Compared to legacy thermoelectric modules, the nanostructured design offers far higher cooling power per unit mass and greater energy efficiency, unlocking new commercial use cases.
Use cases and market relevance
Potential applications span automotive cabin climate control, localized data-center rack cooling, consumer refrigerators, precision cooling for electronics, and portable medical chillers. Samsung already showcased a related Peltier element in its AI Hybrid Refrigerator at IFA 2024, signaling commercial interest. Winning the R&D 100 Award underscores market validation and accelerates adoption in green cooling, edge data centers, and automotive HVAC markets.
Industry impact and outlook
Joonhyun Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Life Solution Team at Samsung Research, said the R&D 100 recognition confirms the technology’s global significance for both innovation and practical deployment. Samsung plans to continue refining thermoelectric, solid-state cooling solutions to create new value across industries and society.
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