Zhiwei Chen, Xinyue Zhang, Shuxian Zhang, Jun Luo, Yanzhong Pei
{"title":"Demonstration of efficient Thomson cooler by electronic phase transition","authors":"Zhiwei Chen, Xinyue Zhang, Shuxian Zhang, Jun Luo, Yanzhong Pei","doi":"10.1038/s41563-024-02039-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the 1850s, Lord Kelvin predicted the existence of a thermoelectric cooling effect inside a whole material (the Thomson effect) according to thermodynamics<sup>1</sup>, in addition to the Peltier effect that enables cooling at the junction between dissimilar materials. However, the Thomson effect is usually negligible (Δ<i>T</i>/<i>T</i> < 2%) in conventional thermoelectric materials because the entropy change in charge carriers is fairly small<sup>2</sup>, leading to the guiding principles for advancing thermoelectric cooling to be based on the framework of the Peltier effect and that the figure of merit <i>ZT</i> should be maximized to optimize performance. Here, we demonstrate a Thomson-effect-enhanced thermoelectric cooler using a large Thomson coefficient (<i>τ</i>) induced by the direct manipulation of charge entropy through an electronic phase transition in YbInCu<sub>4</sub>. The devices achieve a steady temperature span (Δ<i>T</i>) of >5 K from <i>T</i> = 38 K. Our findings suggest not only another approach to advance thermoelectric coolers in addition to improving <i>ZT</i> but also technologically opens opportunities for solid-state cryogenic cooling applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":19058,"journal":{"name":"Nature Materials","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":37.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nature Materials","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-024-02039-z","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
In the 1850s, Lord Kelvin predicted the existence of a thermoelectric cooling effect inside a whole material (the Thomson effect) according to thermodynamics1, in addition to the Peltier effect that enables cooling at the junction between dissimilar materials. However, the Thomson effect is usually negligible (ΔT/T < 2%) in conventional thermoelectric materials because the entropy change in charge carriers is fairly small2, leading to the guiding principles for advancing thermoelectric cooling to be based on the framework of the Peltier effect and that the figure of merit ZT should be maximized to optimize performance. Here, we demonstrate a Thomson-effect-enhanced thermoelectric cooler using a large Thomson coefficient (τ) induced by the direct manipulation of charge entropy through an electronic phase transition in YbInCu4. The devices achieve a steady temperature span (ΔT) of >5 K from T = 38 K. Our findings suggest not only another approach to advance thermoelectric coolers in addition to improving ZT but also technologically opens opportunities for solid-state cryogenic cooling applications.
期刊介绍:
Nature Materials is a monthly multi-disciplinary journal aimed at bringing together cutting-edge research across the entire spectrum of materials science and engineering. It covers all applied and fundamental aspects of the synthesis/processing, structure/composition, properties, and performance of materials. The journal recognizes that materials research has an increasing impact on classical disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and biology.
Additionally, Nature Materials provides a forum for the development of a common identity among materials scientists and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. It takes an integrated and balanced approach to all areas of materials research, fostering the exchange of ideas between scientists involved in different disciplines.
Nature Materials is an invaluable resource for scientists in academia and industry who are active in discovering and developing materials and materials-related concepts. It offers engaging and informative papers of exceptional significance and quality, with the aim of influencing the development of society in the future.