Project description
LEDs and solar cell materials pave the way to solid-state thermophotonic coolers
Meeting heating and cooling needs in residential buildings and industrial applications results in a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Current approaches include conventional mechanical compressor-heat pump technologies with liquid or gas refrigerants and newer solid-state semiconductor-based thermoelectric ones. The latter are quieter and have no moving parts but are generally applicable only to small-scale applications. The EU-funded OPTAGON project explores a revolutionary optical approach to refrigeration based on solar cell materials and LEDs. It will harness the ability of LEDs to cool themselves in the process of emitting photons known as electroluminescent cooling, ideally providing access to cooling performance enabling even cryogenic applications.
Objective
According to fundamental thermodynamics, using light as a refrigerant could allow new cooling technologies providing a much better alternative for the presently prevailing mechanical compressor based heat pumps and their all-solid-state thermoelectric counterparts. Recent evidence shows that such a break-through is already possible with the right combination of the latest innovations in lighting, photovoltaics and nanotechnologies. Addressing the challenges of stopping the use of polluting green-house gasses and reducing the rapidly increasing global energy consumption on cooling and heating, OPTAGON aims to demonstrate and harness the fundamental phenomenon of electroluminescent cooling to develop the first thermophotonic coolers. This opens an entirely new way to tackle the challenges of efficient solid-state cooling, enabling cooling solutions all the way from cryogenic coolers to domestic heat pumps. In a multidisciplinary cross-over approach we combine thin-film solar cell materials and light emitting diode structures with recently developed extremely efficient light extraction methods and emerging nanoengineering concepts using optical near-field effects to demonstrate the extraordinary prospects of thermophotonics. This creates a fundamental and cutting-edge line of research, development, and innovation targeting a solid-state cooling revolution with a scientific underpinning and addressing the urgent industrial needs for efficient cryogenic solid -state cooling. This project will combine synergies in theory, experiment and technology-development covering different fields from materials to photonics. The project partners, who are leaders in their respective fields, form a consortium that is uniquely positioned to achieve the ambitious objectives.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering thermodynamic engineering
- natural sciences physical sciences thermodynamics
- engineering and technology nanotechnology
- social sciences political sciences political transitions revolutions
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
RIA - Research and Innovation action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
02150 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.