Thermoelectrics
Expertise in Action
Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Next-Gen Refrigeration
Researchers at APL have developed nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric devices that are two times as efficient as currently used bulk devices in refrigeration. This advancement paves the way for compact, scalable, and compressor-free cooling.
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Revolutionizing Prosthetics
Revolutionizing Prosthetics was an ambitious multiyear program—funded by DARPA—to create a neurally controlled artificial limb that would restore near-natural motor and sensory capability to individuals with upper-extremity limb loss and spinal cord injury.
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Nano-engineered Thermoelectrics Enable Scalable, Compressor-Free Cooling May 21, 2025
Researchers at Johns Hopkins APL, in collaboration with Samsung Research, have unveiled a breakthrough in solid-state cooling technology, doubling the efficiency of today’s commercial systems. Driven by the Lab’s patented nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials and devices, this innovation paves the way for compact, reliable and scalable cooling solutions that could potentially replace traditional compressors across a range of industries.
Johns Hopkins APL’s Ultracompact, Efficient Cooling Device Earns 2023 R&D 100 Award Aug 23, 2023
The Wearable Thin-Film Thermoelectric Cooling (TFTEC) device, developed at APL, was named as a 2023 R&D 100 Awards winner as one of the top 100 revolutionary technologies in the world.
Johns Hopkins APL Restores Cold Sensation in Amputees’ Phantom Limbs Jul 27, 2023
APL researchers have developed one of the world’s smallest, most intense refrigeration devices. The adhesive bandage-like device mimics the body’s natural and rapid ability to sense temperature, and bioengineers at the Lab are now using it to help amputees perceive a sense of cold in their phantom limbs.