Project description
Optical refrigeration to keep semiconductor devices cool
Keeping semiconductor devices cold is essential for advanced technologies such as night vision, space exploration, medical imaging and telecommunications. Yet, current cooling systems are large, costly and inefficient. As devices become smaller and more advanced, there is a growing need for smarter and compact cooling solutions. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the COOLED project will introduce a novel cooling technology – optical refrigeration powered by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Using high-refractive index lenses and thin-film light emitters, COOLED should help create ultra-compact cooling systems that are up to 99 % smaller than existing technologies. Researchers will test these coolers in real-world scenarios, refine their design and scale up their production.
Objective
Semiconductor-based devices in fields like night vision, space exploration, medical inspection, and telecommunications benefit from operating at low or cryogenic temperatures. However, current cryogenic cooling technologies face challenges in meeting the size, costs, energy efficiency and performance requirements of modern applications. This has led to increasing demand for compact, high-performance electronics and efficient thermal management in miniaturized systems.
Optical refrigeration, powered by light-emitting diodes, presents a transformative cooling technology with immense application potential. We have developed an innovation that integrates high-refractive index lenses with low-resistance current-spreading solutions and thin-film light emitter technologies, significantly boosting light emission efficiency. This enhancement enables smaller and more cost-effective low-temperature and cryogenic optical cooling solutions.
The primary advantage of the COOLED technology is its ultra-compact size, using up to 95-99% less space than competing technologies. In COOLED, we will demonstrate the commercial feasibility of the solutions by testing these new coolers in industrially relevant use cases. We will also improve device fabrication scalability and performance, advancing from TRL4 to TRL6. Demonstrations will focus on room temperature thermal stabilizers, providing around 1W of cooling power, and optical refrigerators, enabling cryogenic cooling.
This novel cooling component will disrupt markets by offering a solution with lower prices, minimal size and weight, and enhanced production scalability compared to existing compact cooling options. Our commercialization plan involves establishing initial production facilities and global value chains for direct component sales by a new entity holding the IP generated during the EIC Transition project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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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.
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2024-TRANSITION-01
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02150 Espoo
Finland
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