Cooling with light explored through semiconductor quantum dots

Cooling with light explored through semiconductor quantum dots
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 27, 2024

Scientists are exploring innovative cooling methods to counteract the challenges posed by heat in modern technologies. Conventional cooling is often energy-intensive, leading researchers to investigate efficient alternatives. Among these is solid-state optical cooling, a process that utilizes anti-Stokes (AS) emission, wherein materials can theoretically cool rather than heat when exposed to light.

AS emission occurs when photons emitted by a material are of higher energy than the incident light, aided by interactions with lattice vibrations called phonons. Achieving near-perfect AS emission efficiency is essential for effective optical cooling.

A recent study, led by Professor Yasuhiro Yamada of Chiba University and published in Nano Letters on August 29, 2024, investigated optical cooling in perovskite-based quantum dot structures. The research focused on a stable "dots-in-crystals" arrangement where CsPbBr3 quantum dots are embedded in a Cs4PbBr6 host crystal. This collaborative effort included Takeru Oki from Chiba University, Dr. Kazunobu Kojima from Osaka University, and Dr. Yoshihiko Kanemitsu from Kyoto University.

"Efforts to achieve optical cooling in semiconductors have encountered several difficulties, primarily due to challenges in reaching nearly 100% emission efficiency, and true cooling has been elusive," Yamada explained. He emphasized that the instability of quantum dots under illumination and exposure to air complicates their use, but the "dots-in-crystals" structure offers potential solutions.

The study addressed a key issue in semiconductors: heating caused by Auger recombination, a process that converts energy into heat rather than light at high exciton densities. The researchers employed time-resolved spectroscopy to examine conditions that exacerbate Auger recombination. Their findings indicated that true optical cooling requires low-intensity light, as heating dominates at moderate or high intensities.

Under optimized conditions, the researchers achieved a theoretical cooling limit of approximately 10 K from room temperature. They also developed a reliable method to estimate sample temperatures based on emission spectrum analysis, overcoming flaws in earlier studies. Yamada remarked, "Our study not only established a reliable method but also defined the potential and limitations of optical cooling through time-resolved spectroscopy, marking a significant achievement in the field."

The findings highlight the potential of minimizing Auger recombination to enhance the cooling performance of dots-in-crystal systems. Improved optical cooling could drive energy-saving innovations and support global sustainability initiatives.

Research Report:Optical Cooling of Dot-in-Crystal Halide Perovskites: Challenges of Nonlinear Exciton Recombination