Switchable ceramics for barocaloric refrigeration – BRef

Refrigeration systems used in our daily lives (air conditioners, refrigerators...) consumed up to 20% of the global electricity production in 2019 and are responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Alternatives are therefore actively sought, in particular through the compression of solids (mechanocaloric effect). This requires materials with significant structural changes, such as in spin conversion phenomenon which is accompanied by large volume changes under pressure. In this context, the BRef project aims at elaborating densified spin crossover pellets using sintering technic to study their thermal conductivity and cooling efficiency for further integration into barocaloric refrigeration devices. The project lies on the unique convergence of expertise of the Switchable Molecules and Materials team of the ICMCB on the elaboration of such densified materials and their characterization under pressure.