To address these environmental concerns, researchers have explored solid-state caloric materials that exhibit refrigeration effects under external fields.
This electrochemical mixing of species induces significant energetic changes, resulting in a thermal response and temperature variation within the system.
The control of the electrochemical potential is achieved by altering the concentration of chemical species through various field variables such as temperature, pressure, and voltage.
It exhibits high latent heat of fusion, a melting point above room temperature, and environmental compatibility, making it an attractive option for practical applications.
The practical implementation of the ionocaloric refrigeration cycle involves the use of desalination techniques, such as electrodialysis, to separate the solution and regenerate the system.
While salts like ๐๐๐ถ๐2 and ๐ป๐๐ถ๐2 have high solubilities, their passage through cation exchange membranes is impeded, and they risk producing toxic chlorine gas.
Notably, the use of specific ionocaloric materials such as the ethylene carbonate-sodium iodide system and NaI, known for their high solubilities and ionic conductivity, further enhances this innovative technology's effectiveness.
By harnessing the ionocaloric effect and integrating it into a carefully designed thermodynamic cycle, we are steering towards zero global warming potential and a more sustainable future.
Continued research and development in the selection and application of these ionocaloric materials are crucial to fully realize this new cooling technology's potential.
It utilizes the ionocaloric effect by changing the concentration of a salt in a mixture to modulate a material's melting point, and therefore heat content.