Achieving high-efficiency and stable refrigeration performance through composition modulation inducing non-twinned martensite.

ABSTRACT: The development of high-efficiency, eco-friendly, and compact refrigeration systems requires materials that achieve the ideal elastocaloric effect with minimal driving forces. However, existing shape memory alloys for refrigeration have difficulties in overcoming the trade-off between strain-dissipation work and driving force-COP_mat (coefficient of performance). Here, we report a Cu-18Zn-8Al-0.3V-0.3Si single-crystal alloy with a recoverable strain of 13% and a low stress hysteresis of 8 MPa under a minimal driving force of 251.1 MPa. Moreover, the alloy exhibits a high COPmat value of 17.4, with a stability over 800 cycles. The high performance is attributed to the unique microstructure of ordered domains and distortion regions induced by composition modulation, which enables s

SUBMITTER: Mei J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12660780 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature