Magnetocaloric Effects in Thin Films: Toward Sustainable Cooling Technologies

Magnetocaloric materials are promising candidates for environmentally-sustainable refrigeration, offering an alternative to traditional vapor-compression systems. We analyzed entropy changes under zero-applied magnetic fields, with results demonstrating the degree to which stoichiometric control and thin-film microstructure affect functional performance. Coupling to electric fields in multiferroic heterostructures and strategies for enhancing entropy change through microstructural engineering is discussed. We further consider pathways for advancing magnetocaloric thin films toward device-level applications, integrating ongoing research on energy innovation and technology commercialization. By connecting condensed matter physics with applied energy research, this work highlights how thin-film functional materials can contribute to scalable, sustainable cooling solutions.