New Salt Solution Cools 30°C in 20 Seconds

Imagine a cooling system that chills faster than any air conditioner you've ever used while producing zero carbon emissions. Chinese researchers just made it reality with a simple salt solution that could revolutionize how we keep the world cool.

A team led by Li Bing at the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered something remarkable about ammonium thiocyanate dissolved in water. When they applied pressure to the solution, the salt crystallized and released heat. When they released the pressure, the salt instantly dissolved again and absorbed massive amounts of heat.

The results stunned even the researchers. At room temperature, the solution's temperature plummeted nearly 30 degrees Celsius in just 20 seconds. That's faster and more powerful than any solid-state cooling material ever tested.

Here's why this matters beyond the lab. Traditional refrigeration consumes nearly 20 percent of China's electricity and generates 7.8 percent of its carbon emissions. Multiply that globally, and cooling technology is a climate challenge hiding in plain sight.

Scientists have tried solving this with solid materials that change temperature under pressure or magnetic fields. These avoided emissions but hit a wall because solids transfer heat poorly. They simply couldn't scale up for real-world use.

The new liquid method solves both problems at once. The solution acts as both the refrigerant and the heat transfer medium in one fluid. Computer simulations show a single cycle can achieve 67 joules of heat absorption per gram with 77 percent energy efficiency.

The team designed a four-step system: pressurize to heat, release heat to surroundings, depressurize to cool, then deliver that cooling where needed. The simplicity makes it practical for engineering applications.

The Ripple Effect

The timing couldn't be better. The United Nations Environment Programme projects global cooling demand will more than triple by 2050 compared to 2022 levels. Without new technology, cooling-related greenhouse gas emissions could nearly double.

Data centers alone could transform with this technology. These facilities consume enormous electricity keeping servers cool, and demand keeps growing with artificial intelligence and cloud computing. A zero-emission cooling system with 77 percent efficiency would slash both their energy bills and environmental impact.

The research, published in Nature on Thursday, provides more than a clever lab trick. It establishes the scientific foundation for a new generation of cooling technology that doesn't force us to choose between comfort and climate.

Other industries watching closely include cold storage, industrial refrigeration, and building climate control. Any sector that relies on keeping things cool could benefit from higher efficiency and eliminated emissions.

The path from laboratory discovery to commercial product takes time, but the researchers designed their system with real-world applications in mind from the start. The materials are relatively simple and the process straightforward enough to scale.

As the planet warms and cooling needs surge, this breakthrough offers hope that we can stay comfortable without making the problem worse.