Materials with the barocaloric effect for solid-state refrigeration

Abstract

As a low-carbon and energy-efficient refrigeration approach, barocaloric refrigeration is considered a promising alternative to traditional vapor compression refrigeration. However, finding excellent barocaloric materials remains a significant challenge, as they require low driving pressures, large isothermal entropy changes, and wide refrigeration temperature ranges. In this review, barocaloric materials are classified into four categories, with their respective barocaloric parameters calculated and analyzed. It is observed that different types of barocaloric materials exhibit unique distribution patterns based on their numerical values. By combining the analysis of the microstructure and the dynamics during phase transitions, the driving pressure and isothermal entropy change are considered to be related to the internal force resisting pressure and the changes in atomic degrees of freedom during the phase transition, respectively. This review offers new insights into the mechanisms of barocaloric effects and material selection. Finally, potential avenues for future development in this field are discussed.