Soft matter materials for Cooling Applications

Phase-changing materials with large caloric effects have the promise of realizing solid-state refrigeration, which is more efficient and environmentally friendly than current techniques [1]. A review of recent direct measurements of the large electrocaloric effect in liquid crystalline materials and the large caloric effects in liquid crystal elastomers will be given [2,3]. Direct measurements indicate that the large elastocaloric response with giant elastocaloric responsivity can be found in main-chain liquid crystalline elastomers. Both soft materials can play a significant role as active cooling elements and parts of thermal diodes or regeneration materials in developing new cooling devices. [1] Z. Kutnjak, B. Rozic, and R. Pirc. Electrocaloric Effect: Theory, Measurements, and Applications (Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering) 2015, p. 1-19. [2] D. Črešnar et al, J. Phys. Energy 5: 045004, 2023. [3] A. Rešetič et al, Nat Comm 7: 13140, 2016.