Solid-State Compact Cooling Devices Based on Electrocaloric Polymers

Electrocaloric cooling may offer important advantages over traditional cooling in compactness, flexibility, COP, and voidance of greenhouse gases. Major technical challenges remain to realize these potentials. We have examined the solution processing and thermal annealing to fabricate poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlororfluoroethylene) terpolymer thin films for high electrocaloric temperature change. Introducing an electrostatic actuation mechanism allows compact, solid-state cooling device designs with high COP and cooling power. The technical approach, results, remaining challenges, and opportunities will be presented.