Barocaloric Materials

Barocaloric materials are solid-state materials that exhibit a reversible thermal response—a change in temperature, entropy, or heat content—when subjected to a change in hydrostatic pressure. This response arises from a pressure-induced phase transition (often structural, magnetic, or electronic) that alters the material’s internal order. During pressurization, the material typically releases heat (exothermic), and during depressurization it absorbs heat (endothermic). Because this effect can be large, fast, and repeatable, barocaloric materials are considered promising candidates for solid-state, environmentally friendly refrigeration and heat-pumping technologies, offering an alternative to conventional gas-compression cooling systems.