An integrated elastocaloric refrigerator for subzero operation at −60 °C

Liang Xue; Pengfei Dang; Kun Wang; Shen Gao; Huilong Hou; Yanxing Zhao; Dezhen Xue; Suxin Qian; Maoqiong Gong

doi:10.59717/j.xinn-energy.2026.100167

The Innovation Energy > 2026 Vol. 3 > No. 3 > 100167

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An integrated elastocaloric refrigerator for subzero operation at −60 °C

1.
State Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
2.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3.
State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
4.
Tianmushan Laboratory, Beihang University, Hangzhou 311115, China
5.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
6.
Department of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
7.
MOE Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Technology and Equipment, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
8.
These authors contributed equally to this work

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Corresponding authors: zyx@mail.ipc.ac.cn (Y. Z.); xuedezhen@xjtu.edu.cn (D. X.); qiansuxin@xjtu.edu.cn (S. Q.)
Received Date: March 10, 2026

Accepted Date: May 22, 2026

Published Online: July 16, 2026

The Innovation Energy 3(3), https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-energy.2026.100167 | Cite this article

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PUBLIC SUMMARY
1. The first elastocaloric refrigerator capable of stable operation at −60 °C is developed.
  
  A compact refrigeration architecture is proposed by integrating a single power source, a linkage mechanism, and solid–solid contact heat transfer.
  
  A TiNiCuNb shape-memory alloy tailored for low-temperature superelasticity and elastocaloric response enables efficient subzero cooling.
  
  The refrigerator achieves a maximum temperature span of 8.5 K, a maximum pull-down temperature of 4.8 K, and a maximum cooling power of 5.9 W.
  
  This work demonstrates the feasibility of elastocaloric refrigeration in a precooled low-temperature regime.

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Elastocaloric cooling is considered a leading alternative to traditional vapor-compression refrigeration. While current research has primarily focused on room-temperature applications, elastocaloric technology holds significant potential for low-temperature solid-state refrigeration. This study develops the first elastocaloric refrigerator operating below −60 °C. The refrigerator features a compact design driven by a single power source that manages the loading and unloading of shape memory alloy ribbon. A synchronized linkage mechanism regulates contact between the ribbon and the heat source/sink, facilitating efficient solid–solid contact heat transfer. By employing a TiNiCuNb quaternary alloy specifically designed for low-temperature superelasticity and elastocaloric response, with the ambient environment precooled from room temperature to −60 °C in an environmental simulation chamber, the system achieves a temperature span of 8.5 K under adiabatic conditions and a pull-down temperature of 4.8 K when rejecting heat at −60 °C, with a maximum cooling power of 5.9 W at zero temperature span. These mechanical innovations demonstrate the viability of elastocaloric cooling at low temperatures, offering valuable insights for future advancements in elastocaloric refrigeration technology.
- Solid-state cooling /
- Elastocaloric /
- Refrigeration /
- Shape-memory alloy /
- Integrated structure.

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Xue L., Dang P., Wang K., et al. (2026). An integrated elastocaloric refrigerator for subzero operation at −60 °C. The Innovation Energy 3:100167. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-energy.2026.100167

Xue L., Dang P., Wang K., et al. (2026). An integrated elastocaloric refrigerator for subzero operation at −60 °C. The Innovation Energy 3:100167. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-energy.2026.100167

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An integrated elastocaloric refrigerator for subzero operation at −60 °C

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

PUBLIC SUMMARY

ABSTRACT